James Maddison says he is excited by Roberto De Zerbi’s attacking philosophy as Tottenham prepare for a new Premier League campaign with a revamped squad.
James Maddison has expressed his excitement over Tottenham Hotspur’s new direction under Roberto De Zerbi, saying the Italian’s attack-minded philosophy is perfectly suited to his style of play as Tottenham prepare for a crucial new Premier League season.
De Zerbi took charge in March after replacing interim manager Igor Tudor during a difficult campaign that saw Tottenham battling relegation. The former Brighton boss guided Spurs to a 17th-place finish, securing Premier League survival with a tense final-day victory over Everton before overseeing a major squad rebuild this summer.
Speaking during Tottenham’s pre-season tour in Sydney, Maddison admitted he is relishing the opportunity to work under a coach whose tactical approach encourages creativity and attacking football. The England international is also reportedly in line to become the club’s new captain ahead of the new campaign.
“The manager is very clear. The goal is to be better, to play better football, to be passionate and to be proud to play for this club,” Maddison said. “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 midfielder is hoping to make a strong comeback after missing much of last season with a serious knee injury. He believes Tottenham’s pre-season preparations are laying the foundations for a vastly improved campaign following two disappointing years.
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Maddison Believes Tottenham Are Building for a Better Season
Tottenham have already shown promising signs during their summer tour, opening their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 victory over A-League champions Auckland FC thanks to goals from Dane Scarlett and Richarlison. Spurs will also face Sydney FC and Chelsea before returning to England for the start of the Premier League season.
Looking ahead to the opening league fixture against Brentford on August 22, Maddison emphasized the importance of using pre-season to fully adapt to De Zerbi’s ideas. “It’s a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful season,” he said. “We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. It’s all preparation leading to that first game. We’re creating the team, how we want to play and the style we want to play.”
De Zerbi has been heavily backed in the transfer market, with Tottenham signing midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, defender Jan Paul van Hecke, and experienced free agents Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka. The club is also expected to strengthen further before the transfer window closes as Spurs look to build a squad capable of climbing back up the Premier League table.
