James Maddison excited by Tottenham attacking style

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 29, 2026

James Maddison, recovering from an ACL injury, is excited about Tottenham Hotspur’s attacking approach under new manager Roberto De Zerbi and will captain the team as they prepare for the Premier League season. Backed by £237 million in new signings, Tottenham aims to improve on recent poor finishes and are targeting additional attackers to strengthen their squad.

James Maddison has expressed enthusiasm about Tottenham Hotspur’s attacking style under new manager Roberto De Zerbi as the team prepares for the upcoming Premier League season. Maddison, who missed a large part of last season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, is poised to take on the captain’s armband heading into the campaign.

Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season matches in Australia and New Zealand, Maddison said the manager’s clear focus is on improving performance and playing with passion and pride. “The goals are to be better, to play better football, to be passionate and be proud to play for this club,” Maddison said. He emphasized the importance of adhering to De Zerbi’s style and principles, suggesting that short-term targets will pave the way for more successful long-term outcomes. “He’s very attacking and I’m really excited,” Maddison added.

Tottenham began their pre-season tour with a 2-0 victory over Auckland FC in New Zealand on Sunday and are scheduled to play Sydney FC before facing Premier League rivals Chelsea in Sydney on Saturday. Maddison’s return to fitness was marked by three substitute appearances in May, setting the stage for a full season focused on the club’s Premier League opener at Brentford on August 22.

“It’s a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful campaign,” Maddison said. “We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. So it’s kind of all just preparation leading to that first game.”

Tottenham’s management has demonstrated strong backing for De Zerbi’s vision, investing approximately £237 million on new signings this summer. The club has acquired midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100 million and fellow midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million. In defense, Tottenham signed Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million. Additionally, free transfers brought in Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson, and Martin Dubravka.

The squad is still seeking to add two more attackers as Tottenham look to bounce back from consecutive 17th-place finishes and mount a more competitive challenge this season.

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