James Maddison opens up about his “tough times” in an emotional interview after playing his first game in 536 days.
James Maddison shared an emotional interview after Tottenham, struggling so far this season, secured their first Premier League win and climbed off the bottom of the table.
The 29-year-old, who spent 18 months recovering from two serious knee injuries, made his first start since May 2025 during Monday’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City. It was a special night for Maddison, who ended a 610-day goal drought by scoring a beautiful first-time shot into the top corner in the 14th minute.
After the game, Maddison opened up about the tough times he faced during rehab. “There were some really dark days,” he told Sky Sports. “You dream of moments like these, the goals. That’s always the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt emotional for Dejan Kulusevski, because I know exactly what it’s like after being out for so long. Goals like this make it all worth it.”
He also talked about discussing with the coach whether it was the right time to return to the starting lineup after a slow start to the season. “I just wanted to play well and show what I bring to the team, what the team has missed during the last 18 months. The coach wanted to enjoy watching me play from the sidelines, and I hope I did that.”
Maddison was one of Tottenham’s best players on Monday, helping Roberto De Zerbi’s team get a much-needed win. After the game, pundit Jamie Carragher said Maddison could have a “big impact” in the weeks ahead as Spurs try to build on this victory.
“He’s the kind of player who’s always laughing and lifting the team’s spirit in the dressing room,” Carragher said. “He’s even captained the club before. Although Tottenham have added a lot of attacking players, Maddison believes no one is better than him because of his confidence and character. It will be interesting to see how he fits in with so many attacking options, especially now with Kulusevski back.”