Roberto De Zerbi played his cards right before Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
James Maddison looks set to hit the ground running just in time for Tottenham Hotspur’s clash against Chelsea. The 29-year-old midfielder impressed in the Lilywhites’ 3-1 win over Coventry City on Monday night, marking his first start of the Premier League season with a superb goal and a performance to match.
Maddison broke the deadlock on the hour mark in the opening quarter, finding the top left corner on the edge of the box. When Mohammed Kudus cut in from the right and rolled the ball into his path, he opened his hips and slotted it past Carl Rushworth.
After almost 18 months on the sidelines after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the summer of 2025, Maddison burst through the gates to show Roberto De Zerbi what Spurs have been missing.
The England international was full of confidence for the rest of the clash, always looking to get on the ball and do something. By the time he was subbed off midway through the second half, Maddison had completed more final third-and-out passes than any other outside linebacker on his team except for the back line.
Make sure you never miss the latest Tottenham news and opinion by making Football London one of Google’s preferred sources.
Although he exceeded the expectations of many in his first competitive start in 536 days, it should come as no surprise that Tottenham suddenly won a game once the Englishman resumed playmaking duties in the middle of the park.
Interestingly, since leaving Leicester City in a £40m deal at the start of the 2023/24 season, Spurs Maddison has won 52.1 per cent of his games (48), with 25 wins, 17 losses and six draws. In his absence, the Lilacs played 73 matches and won just 17 as shown in the chart below.
The maestro must retain his place in the middle of the park if De Zerbi is to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, ending a six-game losing streak against Tottenham’s rivals. In fact, Maddison should be the first name on the team sheet and for weeks to come.
Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, Maddison spoke about his preparations for the match after helping Spurs to their first three points of the campaign. He told Sky Sports: “I was hoping [to start].
“I spoke to the player about it this week and after a stop-start it felt like the right moment to get back into the starting XI, to start the season. I just wanted to show my quality and show what the team has missed in the last 18 months since my last start.
“The goalkeeper asked me to play and said he wanted to enjoy watching me from the sidelines, so hopefully I did and it’s always nice to score.”
On his goal: “They’re a little fuzzy; they’re the things you dream about. Coming off the ACL last year, those dark days. They’re the goals you dream about. [end of the] tunnel for you.
“And for Dejan Kulusevski, I was proud of him because I knew exactly how he felt. Those moments and those goals are worth everything.”
And on his position playing in the pockets, Maddison added: “I work best in the pockets on the edge of the lines. I’ve been seen left, right and center and that’s where I’m at my best.
“Being able to get between the lines and pockets of space and that’s where the goal came from.”