James Maddison had the perfect response for one TalkSport pundit who doubted his ability to help Tottenham win silverware – and he did it with a Europa League winners’ medal in hand.
For much of the past 17 years, the narrative around Tottenham Hotspur has centred on their inability to cross the finish line.
A club accused of lacking a winning mentality, often ridiculed with terms like “Spursy,” “banter club” or “bottlers”, had been written off time and again.
But this season, that storyline has finally shifted. Tottenham have answered their critics by lifting the Europa League, ending a 17-year wait for silverware in the process.
Ange Postecoglou’s side edged Manchester United 1-0 in the final at the San Mames, not only claiming their first trophy in nearly two decades but also ending a 41-year drought in Europe, with the win securing their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
James Maddison responds to Simon Jordan after Europa League triumph
It has been pure celebration in North London since Wednesday night, and with the good vibes flowing, some Tottenham players have not held back in sending messages to those who had written them off before their historic win.
James Maddison has already poked fun at Chelsea legend John Terry with a cheeky dig during Spurs’ trophy ceremony in Bilbao, mocking the infamous “full kit” antics that Terry was known for.
Now, the England midfielder has turned his attention to Simon Jordan, who had previously questioned his ability to be part of a title-winning team.
Jordan had said, “To win something, you have got to bring players in that are able to operate at the highest level, and I look at players like James Maddison, I think are good players, but I do not think you win things with James Maddison.”
In response, James Maddison posted a video on his Instagram stories that began with the pundit’s remarks, before cutting to scenes of him celebrating with his Tottenham teammates after winning the Europa League. The clip was captioned: “Bookmarked it. Knew it would come in handy.”
Spurs squad silence critics as Ange Postecoglou sets sights on next season
There is no doubt that Tottenham players have taken great satisfaction in proving their doubters wrong, and winning a European trophy has gone a long way to quieten the outside noise.
The confidence and belief within the squad is evident. During the club’s trophy parade, Ange Postecoglou referenced how few believed in the vision he laid out upon arrival, but he also made sure to highlight the collective spirit that carried them over the line.
The Australian then raised expectations again, closing with a bold claim: “I told them and they laughed. I told them and they did not believe, but here we are and we are here because of this unbelievable group of people – players, staff – absolute heroes.
“Led by the legend Heung-min Son, Cuti Romero, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario – all of them heroes. And they did it all for you because you deserve it.
“This club deserves it. And I will tell you something, I leave you with this – all the best television series, season three is better than season two.”