Maddison finally shines for Spurs after 18 months
Roberto de Zerbi has tried everything to spark a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side, from informal psychology sessions and team‑building dinners to a sunny retreat in Marbella. The breakthrough finally arrived when James Maddison earned his first start in 18 months and helped Spurs climb off the bottom of the table with a 3‑1 win over Coventry City.
The 29‑year‑old missed most of last season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in pre‑season, then broke his shoulder in the opening‑week defeat at Brentford this campaign. Returning to the starting eleven against Coventry, Maddison made an immediate impact. After a bright smile in the warm‑up, he collected a pass from Mohammed Kudus and, on his first touch, unleashed a 20‑yard right‑footed strike that arced over goalkeeper Carl Rushworth in the 14th minute. The goal was replayed on the stadium’s big screens, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd.
Maddison celebrated the moment with his usual imaginary dart‑throwing gesture and a kiss to the Spurs badge. The goal was especially sweet, coming against his former club. It underscored how crucial he has been absent: Tottenham have won just 12 of the 57 Premier League games since his last top‑flight goal, a 1‑0 victory over Manchester United in February 2025, and have averaged less than a point per game in that span. Since his previous start, a 27 April 2025 match at Liverpool, the team has recorded only 11 wins from 49 league outings, losing 23.
While the win was a cause for celebration, it remains modest in the club’s recent history. It marked only the sixth home league victory in the last 37 matches, with ten draws and 21 defeats, and it was Spurs’ fourth league win of the 2026 season after 27 games, 10 draws and 13 losses. It was also the first time the team has scored three or more goals at home since opening the previous season with a 3‑0 win over Burnley in Thomas Frank’s debut.
The result was not without drama. Coventry equalised through Jack Rudoni before Omar Marmoush, on his first goal for the club, restored Spurs’ lead. A late strike from Ben Davies, following a costly error by Rushworth, sealed the victory.
The match also saw Dejan Kulusevski return as an 87th‑minute substitute for Kudus, ending a 526‑day spell on the sidelines after a knee injury. Maddison received a standing ovation when he was replaced by Conor Gallagher after 69 minutes, while Kulusevski’s brief cameo drew an even louder response from the fans.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Maddison explained his mindset: “I spoke to the gaffer this weekend about it, feeling like it was the right moment for me to go back into the starting XI after a bit of a stop‑start start to the season. I just wanted to play well and show my abilities, show what the team has missed the last 18 months. The gaffer asked me to play and wanted to enjoy watching from the side. Hopefully I did that, and a goal is always nice.”
De Zerbi will now turn his attention to a tough away fixture at Chelsea on Saturday at 17:30 BST. He praised the return of Maddison and Kulusevski, saying, “They are different players, different talents, different personalities. With them in the dressing room there is a different atmosphere.” The manager acknowledged that victories are the catalyst for a changed mood and hopes the win can spark a sustained improvement after a difficult period.