Unfortunately, James Maddison didn't get to play in Tottenham's historic Europa League Final triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao. But even though a knee injury kept Maddison out of the match, the top-class Premier League playmaker was still crucial to Spurs getting that far.
Maddison had a great all-around Europa League tournament with three goals and three assists along with 1.7 key passes and three combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game. In additon to being Tottenham's best playmaker, Maddison was an important secondary source of goals and ball progression, cementing his status as one of the better 10's in European football and someone still able to start in that role in the modern game.
Maybe more importantly for Tottenham fans, Maddison has proven to be an important character in the dressing room who fights for the kit and has embraced the club. An FA Cup winner at Leicester City years after the Foxes had already completed their miracle Premier League win, Maddison is now hoisting the biggest trophy of his career for Tottenham.
James Maddison got the last laugh
What makes that even sweeter is how everyone doubted he'd accomplish exactly that at Spurs. Maddison remembers it too, and he had this to say to the press after the Europa League Final, via the Spurs Express, “When I joined Spurs everyone made the jokes. ‘Ah he’s retired from winning trophies’. I told my dad and my brother I’m going to lift a trophy for Tottenham."
Well, now, Maddison has the last laugh as a European Champion for Tottenham, just two seasons after joining one of the biggest clubs in England.
As if that quote weren't enough, Maddison dropped another gem at the expense of former Manchester United Roy Keane, one of the biggest Tottenham haters and easily among the crustiest of the decadently rotten pie that it is English football punditry, “I wasn’t gonna do any interviews but I heard Roy Keane was in the studio tonight."
Absolutely, brilliant. As bad as this Tottenham team was in the Premier League - and they were literally historically bad - they were still able to win the Europa League, and a lot of that is down to the self-belief of the players and their ability to get the job done in big games.
Maddison, for example, is a playmaker, but he's not a diva at all, which is the stereotype for these talented and technical attacking midfield players. He's someone wiling to be a leader, work hard, play defense, and stick his neck out for his team and the fans. Although these quotes are just words, they symbolize the mentality, fighting spirit, and tongue-in-cheek moxie a player needs to succeed at a club like Tottenham, where embracing the underdog is imperative.