Maddison excited for De Zerbi’s first full season at Spurs

James Maddison says he is excited to begin Tottenham Hotspur’s first full season under Roberto De Zerbi, with the England midfielder believing the Italian’s attack-minded philosophy is well suited to his style of play as Spurs prepare for the 2026-27 Premier League campaign.

Speaking during Tottenham’s pre-season tour of Australia, Maddison praised De Zerbi’s footballing vision and said the squad is embracing the manager’s ideas after a difficult previous season that ended with the club narrowly avoiding relegation.

“The manager has a very clear way he wants us to play,” Maddison said. “As an attacking midfielder, that’s something I really enjoy. I’m excited about working under him and seeing what we can achieve together.”

De Zerbi took charge of Tottenham in March after the dismissal of interim manager Igor Tudor and guided the club to Premier League safety during the closing weeks of the season. Although Spurs finished 17th, the Italian stabilized results and ensured the club retained its top-flight status, setting the stage for a full pre-season to implement his tactical philosophy.

For Maddison, the summer has been focused on recovery after an anterior cruciate ligament injury ended his 2025-26 campaign prematurely. While the midfielder continues his rehabilitation, he has remained involved with the squad and believes the additional preparation time under De Zerbi will benefit both the players returning from injury and the team as a whole.

“It has been frustrating being out, but I’m working hard every day,” Maddison said. “Being around the group, seeing how the manager works and understanding his ideas has been really important.”

Tottenham are currently in Australia as part of their pre-season preparations, having already opened the tour with a victory over Auckland FC. They will also face Sydney FC and Chelsea before returning to England ahead of the Premier League season.

Maddison said the tour provides an ideal opportunity for the squad to develop chemistry and become more familiar with De Zerbi’s tactical demands before competitive fixtures begin.

“Pre-season is where you build the foundations,” he said. “It’s about learning, improving and making sure everyone understands exactly what the manager expects from us. The more time we spend together now, the better prepared we’ll be when the season starts.”

Known for his possession-based, high-intensity style of football, De Zerbi has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most progressive coaches. Maddison believes the Italian’s emphasis on controlling matches and creating attacking opportunities can help Tottenham improve significantly after last season’s struggles.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm around the squad,” Maddison said. “The manager brings great energy every day, and the players are responding well to that. Everyone wants to improve and move the club forward.”

Tottenham’s Premier League campaign begins on Aug. 22 with a home fixture against Brentford, and Maddison said the players are determined to ensure the club delivers a much stronger campaign than last season.

“No one was happy with where we finished,” he said. “We know the standards expected at this football club, and our goal is to be much better this year. That starts with the work we’re putting in during pre-season.”

While Maddison continues his recovery from injury, he remains optimistic that Tottenham are moving in the right direction under De Zerbi and believes the club can build momentum during the coming weeks before the competitive season gets underway.