James Maddison is having a lot of fun in his first season with Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s not just down to the goals and assists he is providing. He is also enjoying the efforts of opponents in the Premier League who try to wind him up, and fail.
Since joining Spurs in the summer, Maddison has very quickly established himself as a fan favourite among the Lilywhites faithful.
The playmaker has been a shining light in a bright season all around for Ange Postecoglou‘s men, adding that spark of creativity and magic that Spurs had been lacking for so long.
With three goals and eight assists in the Premier League so far this campaign (Transfermarkt), Maddison’s contributions to the cause have been highly valuable, and if Spurs are to achieve a top-four finish this term, the 27-year-old will likely be at the heart of that success.
Maddison doesn’t let opponents get in his head
However, it’s not just his attacking output that has attracted attention this year. Maddison has been the target of wind-up tactics on more than one occasion, but he doesn’t let it bother him.
He told supporters gathered at the private members H Club (via WeAreTottenhamTV): “There was a guy at Brentford called Neal Maupay who tried it didn’t he? You get that, you got it with Jefferson Lerma who was giving me a little bit. I take it as a compliment, they are trying to stop me. He didn’t manage it.
“They are going to try and do anything to put you off your game, at this level it is such fine margins. Sometimes you need to do that. I will do it and so will other players.
“You have seen Romero? He does it to every side we play against. That happens all over the pitch even in the Premier League. It is about having personality and dealing with it.”
Spurs Web Opinion
When you’re as good as James Maddison, other players are always going to try and bring you down in any way they can. Luckily, he’s a very good wind-up merchant himself, so they have very little success affecting his game.