Ange Postecoglou reveals what James Maddison did in training that convinced him to start the Tottenham star vs Man City

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James Maddison netted a brilliant brace on his birthday to help fire Tottenham Hotspur to a 4-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League.

Maddison had been told Spurs were better without him, however, at the Etihad Stadium the 28-year-old proved that certainly wasn’t the case with two well-taken goals.

The midfielder looked to have fallen out of favour with Postecoglou as against City he made just his first Premier League start since October 19 when he was taken off at half-time against West Ham.

However, over the intentional break, Maddison did something at Hotspur Way to convince Spurs’ head coach to start him against the champions.

Ange Postecoglou says he never doubted James Maddison

Ange Postecoglou has said he never doubted James Maddison’s ability and was confident that the midfielder would be key for Tottenham against Man City.

The 59-year-old believed that the England international was needed for the game at the Etihad as Spurs looked to keep the ball moving quickly and in tight areas of the pitch.

Postecoglou told Sky Sports: “He was outstanding. You have to be against Manchester City, every aspect of the game challenges you. Madders was great today, he’s gone through a bit of a lean spell but I never doubted his ability. I just thought the kind of game today was going to be was really going to suit him and he did outstandingly.”

Postecoglou also revealed that Maddison has worked really hard in Tottenham training over the international break and that he was ready to go against City. The Australian coach admitted Maddison had been underperforming but he made it his personal mission to get him back to his best.

“I said before the game, we were going to need Madders ability to keep the ball in tight midfield areas and Deki when he plays wide against City always causes them problems” Postecoglou added.

“I take it personally on myself when players aren’t playing to their levels and Madders hasn’t reached his levels and that’s on me to get him back up there. We’ve done a lot of work with him in the last two weeks, that was part of the thinking and he had a good solid two weeks of training and I just thought he was ready to go.”

How good was James Maddison vs Manchester City?

Maddison silenced many of his critics with his brilliant display against City and may have just worked his way back into Postecoglou’s team. Dejan Kulusevski was moved back into right wing to allow Maddison to start in midfield alongside Pape Matar Sarr.

The former Leicester man was a nightmare for City as he kept the ball moving so well for Spurs and his pressing with Sarr gave Guardiola’s side next to no time on the ball. With Kulusevski out wide and Sarr alongside him, Maddison looked back to his best given the freedom move into more advanced areas of the pitch.