James Maddison has openly praised Roberto De Zerbi, crediting the Italian manager as the key reason Tottenham Hotspur survived relegation on the final day of the Premier League season.
Spurs secured safety with a 1–0 victory over Everton, a result that proved decisive after West Ham’s 3–0 win over Leeds failed to close the gap. Softfootball believes, the narrow escape capped a turbulent campaign, but Maddison insists De Zerbi’s arrival changed everything.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Maddison said:
Without De Zerbi coming in, there is a serious possibility we would have went down.
He switched the mindset. The passion he shows every single day rubbed off on the players and I think you could see that in the last few performances.
Maddison also expressed deep gratitude to Tottenham supporters, reflecting on his emotional return from injury during the 1–1 draw against Leeds United earlier in the season. The midfielder acknowledged the fans’ patience and support throughout a difficult campaign.
