Spurs’ Maddison Says de Zerbi Is the Right Coach for His Game

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has lauded new coach Roberto De Zerbi, describing the Italian as the ideal attacking manager for his playing style. De Zerbi, who replaced sacked interim boss Igor Tudor in March, steered Tottenham away from relegation, securing Premier League survival with a crucial win on the final day of the season.

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The manager is very clear, the goal is to be better, to play better football, to be passionate, to be proud to play for this club.

Maddison, who endured a season largely sidelined by a serious knee injury, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season under De Zerbi's guidance. He highlighted the manager's clear vision for improvement, emphasizing a desire to play better football with passion and pride for the club. Maddison admitted he is still adapting to De Zerbi's tactical approach but finds him to be a coach players want to play for due to his focus on attacking play.

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I'm still learning the way he plays. But as a player, he's a coach you want to play for because he loves everything with the ball. He's very attacking, and I'm really excited.

The club has already begun an aggressive summer spending spree to build a new squad under De Zerbi. Recent pre-season matches have seen Tottenham secure a 2-0 victory over A-League champions Auckland FC, with goals from Dane Scarlett and Richarlison. They are scheduled to face Sydney FC and then London rivals Chelsea as part of their pre-season tour.

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First game of the season, Brentford. It's a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful season.

Maddison is looking forward to the Premier League opener against Brentford on August 22, acknowledging the importance of the upcoming season. He stated the team needs to improve on their performance from the last couple of seasons, with the pre-season preparations focused on establishing the desired style of play. De Zerbi's significant signings so far include midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, along with defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Additionally, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka have joined on free transfers, signaling a significant squad overhaul.

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We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. So it's kind of all just preparation leading to that first game. We're just stepping up what we've been working on and creating the team, how we want to play and the style we want to play.