James Maddison says he is keen to use the disappointment of missing out on the Euros as fuel to showcase the best version of himself this season.
Maddison’s form fell off a cliff in the second half of last season after he returned from his injury lay-off but the summer break seems to have done him a lot of good.
The 27-year-old seemed to be back to his old self in Tottenham’s opening Premier League game of the season against Leicester City, looking extremely lively and threatening all game.
Maddison, who set up Tottenham’s only goal of the game with a perfect cross, has now admitted that he is desperate to prove a point to his teammates, the coaching staff and the supporters.
When asked if he is using the adversity in the summer to push him on, the attacking midfielder told The Standard: “Of course. Setbacks are set-ups for comebacks, I’ve seen that quote somewhere! It’s how you deal with adversity. My network around me, my parents, partner, agent, the manager, they wouldn’t let me dwell on that. I knew I would come back with a hunger.
“I knew I’d be ready by game one to have a good season. And I want to show the gaffer, the fans, my teammates that I can be back consistently to my best. I could not quite find that post-injury [last season], but it’s always about how you respond.”
Maddison confessed it was not easy to take when he learned he would not be on the plane to Germany but revealed that he used the summer break to work extremely hard to be sharp for the opening game of the campaign.
The England international continued: “I was devastated to miss out on the Euros, but my network, and my dad especially, would never let that define me. I’m hungry to do well this season.
“My dad just would never let me be upset — and he was upset for me, like any parent would be. He was hungry for the season, [for me to] use it as motivation to remind me that I can be at that level.
“I trained really well. I trained well with England as well, we had the warm-up game against North Macedonia and I felt I played well in that, so it was disappointing to miss out. I had a good chat with Gareth about it. All of that is motivation now, because it’s gone.
“And it’s about using [that disappointment] as fuel to be good this season, and I’m desperate to be a top player for the whole season, stay fit and show everyone the best version of myself.
“I never doubt myself. I had no doubt that in the first game I was going to be ready to go and put in a good performance. I felt like I did that.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Maddison is a fierce competitor and just oozes class as a player, which is why I had no concerns about him. The 27-year-old silenced his critics with his display on Monday and Spurs fans would be hoping that his performance against the Foxes is a sign of things to come this summer.
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