Tottenham -midfielder James Maddison only sits down with Sky Sports News to discuss the struggles of the club in the Premier League this season, their Europa League, the target of criticism and his ambitions in England.
How does the team feel after Sunday's 2-2 home stretch against Bournemouth?
“A bit mixed. A club like Tottenham, when we play Bournemouth at home, although they have a good season, you start to think that this game we should win – no respect for Bournemouth, they have a fantastic season. If we just need that little bit at the end.
“We lost many games this year through one goal, where we just need to find something. We have succeeded in getting a point on Sunday, so it is important that we look at the positives and not at the negatives. We need that Thursday [against AZ Alkmaar] Because we are a goal behind that from the first stage, so it fits a bit well with the character that we have to show. But it was a point and positives to record the comeback. “
Why do you think Spurs 13th is in the Premier League? Do you think it is exclusively of injuries?
“Well, it's a huge factor, and I don't want to sound like I apologize, but if you have such a long period in the busiest part of the year where you (Guglielmo) Vicario Mist (Cristian) Romero, (Micky) van de Ven, (Dominic) Solankie, Richarlison, not just one game or two games or two games or two games or two games or two games or two games or two games, is not just one game or two games or two games or two games or two games, not just one game or two games or two games, or two games or two games or two games, not just one game or two games, or two games or two games, or two games or two games or two games, or two games or two games, or two games, or two games, or two games or two games, or two games, or two games, or two games, or two games or two games, or two games, or two games, or two games or two games.
“Of course we are not naive not to look in the mirror and think that we could have been better here, we could have been better there. Performances in certain games might have been better, but it is a determining factor and it has been a difficult year for setbacks with injuries at this club. It is just actually.”
As a senior player you thought it was difficult?
“Yes, during that Christmas period when the Premier League picks up a little and we had the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, that is two legs and only many games with the new European format with eight games in the group. It is a lot of football and you need your team and we don't need that.
“De enige zegen die het soort van creëerde was het feit dat we blootstelling aan de jonge jongens en de jongens kregen die niet zoveel hadden gespeeld, dus de wil van Djed (Spence) kreeg zijn kans en hij is fenomenaal geweest. Lucas (Bergvall) en Archie (Gray) zijn binnengekomen als 18-jarigen en speelde een aantal voetbal, meer dan wat de management had, maar waarschijnlijk wat ze in het goede team hadden, behalve dat ze in het goedeste team hadden, maar dat she had rejected in the good team.
“Het is moeilijk als een senior speler. Ik heb maar een paar weken gemist, maar voor de jongens zoals Romero, ik weet wie het type persoon dat hij is, en Van de Ven, en Vic (Vicario), zoals ik al zei, de namen die ik heb vermeld, senior spelers die maanden hebben gemist en het is moeilijk. Elke voetballer zal je vertellen dat het zo zwaar is omdat je niet helpt, je hebt gekregen op de sideline en het doden in de sideline en het kill inside. “
Did the players talk about how important the Europa League Last-16 is second stage against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday?
“Yes, we know what it means for us, the fans, everyone, we are all on the same page. The first stage was clearly not good enough, heavy conditions at a difficult pitch to play as we want to play, but it is only 1-0, they have to come to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and if the fans get behind us and have the place who know they can.”
Is that a message to the fans? “No, I think they have been brilliant, especially in Europe, the midweek are heavy in the middle of the week because people have lives and jobs and children, I know all of that, it remains not appreciated and unnoticed. So just more of that, more of what we have seen in Europe so far.
'I remember the game we played against them [AZ Alkmaar] In the group stage. We did reasonably well, I was captain of the side and the atmosphere was brilliant that evening, we won 1-0. We will need more of it and we must give them something to scream about and the boys will be ready and we will start quickly and hopefully we can do the job. “
Despite your competition position, it can still be a great season if you lift the Europa League?
“The manager always talks about how it can still be especially for us when we win, and we are in a good position to do that.
“Listen, we have work to do in the second stage, but we know that we are able to do so and we can turn it around, there is no one there in the fact that we can do that we can do. But we have to do it, talk is one thing, we have to win the game and being the defeat of the first leg. That's where we strive.”
Now Scapegoat is perhaps the wrong word, but do you feel that you are being talked about too much?
“Ja, maar dat is oké, ik heb liever dat dan zij praten over Archie of Lucas. Ik vind het niet erg om de hitte een klein beetje te nemen. Ik ben nu groot genoeg en lelijk genoeg om de hits te nemen en de kritiek te nemen omdat ik weet waar ik in staat ben, ik weet wat ik kan doen, ik weet mijn persoonlijke niveau en wat mensen doen is wat we doen achter de scènes en hoeveel we proberen te verbeteren en hoeveel we het goedmaken en het is heel goed om te gaan en te praten And to talk and it is very good to talk and talk and it is very good to go and talk.
“Training today was the standard incredible and boys who worked very hard because we went to Bournemouth at home, guys are not happy, so they don't see that it hurts us if we don't do well in the competition.
“I Feel Good, I Actually Feel Pretty Good, Feel Pretty Sharp, Really Looking Forward to Thursday and Beyond, Try and Finish The Season Special A Team, Try and Finish The Season Strong Personally, Still Have Season in Terms or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals or Goals and Goals or Goals or Goals and Goals or Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals and Goals. and spread that through the dressing room Instead of Focusing on the negatives and the doom and gloom of the league position. “
Did you call you in your English ambitions?
“Yes, we had a chat. He is England manager, I think he would speak to everyone who has a possible call-up selection.
“It's hard to think about personal [ambitions] If a team is not doing well because you can score and if you lose the game, it is worthless. I have 10 goals this season, but I want it to be worth more because it is a good return for a midfielder, I am happy with that return. When you start the season, you see as an attacking midfielder, it is your job to score and create for the team and goals and assists is a big thing about that. But in the end, if it leads to the team ending halfway the table and does not go deep in the Europa League, it is a bit worthless.
“Of course England is something else that I have an ambition for. Fresh manager, Fresh Start, I know I can play at that level, I have self -confidence to do that, to play against these players in the Premier League every week and I know that I can be at that level and then, so ambitious for it all.”
Analysis: Open and fascinating Maddison knows the importance of the AZ game on Thursday
Michael Bridge from Sky Sports News:
“If Tottenham is eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday evening, their season is almost over.
“Supporters kept scratching their heads with the performance of the first legs in view of the importance of the game. However, I left the Tottenham Hotspur training ground convinced that James Maddison knew how important the second stage was.
“He is an open and fascinating person. He acknowledges the 13th in the table is not good enough, but the chance is Thursday to send traces to the quarterfinals of a major competition.
“It was also clear that he enjoys his senior role in the club. Public criticism by Roy Keane did not affect him and probably acknowledging that it was not with any malice.
“If Maddison can help to lead traces to a place in the last phases of the Europa League, Thomas Tuchel can give his number a different call soon.”
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