De Zerbi’s ‘passion’ saved Tottenham Hotspur from relegation, says Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has praised Roberto De Zerbi for using his passionate personality to save the club from the humiliation of relegation.

De Zerbi’s side entered the final day of the Premier League season at risk of dropping to the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.

But a thrilling 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday, secured by Joao Palhinha’s first-half goal, sealed survival and sent London rivals West Ham to the Championship.

When De Zerbi took over from sacked interim boss Igor Tudor in March, Tottenham were winless in the Premier League in 2026.

The side found themselves in the relegation zone before De Zerbi’s debut defeat at Sunderland, while a significant injury list threatened to overwhelm the Italian’s survival bid.

But Maddison said De Zerbi’s infectious positivity restored faith among the players and rebuilt a previously broken bond with Tottenham’s miserable fanbase.

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A first home win in the Premier League since December 6 was enough to retain top status.

And Maddison, who missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, said: «I’m really happy for the manager who came in and steered the ship because I think without him it could have been doom and gloom if I’m honest.»

«He’s so passionate. He’s been living on the training ground with the boys and his team. He’s there at 9pm with all his staff. They’ve got the tactics sorted, there’s six of them, they’re just talking, it’s 9pm and we’ve already had four or five meetings about every game. He’s just obsessed with football and he’s passionate,» he added.

Maddison singled out De Zerbi’s enthusiasm and drive as essential qualities in dealing with a struggling side, adding: «When you feel the authenticity of someone who is passionate about Tottenham and when you see the man steering the ship, when he is genuine, and not just saying it for fun, you can tell he means it.»

“That’s why he says, ‘I’ve got blood in me, not water’. He always says that. It’s because he’s genuinely passionate about the club. Without that appointment, disaster might have struck, but it didn’t and he gets a lot of credit for that because of the work he’s done behind the scenes and on the training pitch,» Maddison said.

Published on May 25, 2026