LONDON — Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison praised Roberto De Zerbi for using his passionate personality to save the club from the humiliation of relegation.
De Zerbi’s side went into the last day of the English Premier League season in danger of dropping into the second tier for the first time since 1977-78.
But a tense 1-0 win over Everton, secured by Joao Palhinha’s first half goal, sealed their survival and sent London rivals West Ham into the Championship instead.
When De Zerbi took over from sacked interim boss Igor Tudor in March, Tottenham were winless in the Premier League in 2026.
They slipped into 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 belief among the players and rebuilt a previously fractured connection with Tottenham’s miserable fan-base.
A first home victory in the Premier League since December 6 was enough to retain their top-flight status.
And Maddison, who missed the majority of the season with a serious knee injury, said according to AFP: “I am really happy for the manager who came in and steered the ship clear because I think without him, it could have been doom and gloom if I am honest.
“He’s so passionate. He’s been living at the training ground with the guys, with his team.
“He’s there at 9pm with all his staff. They’ve got the tactics board up, there’s six of them, they’re just talking, it’s 9pm and we’ve already had four or five meetings on each game. He’s just obsessed with football and he’s passionate.”
Hailing De Zerbi’s enthusiasm and drive as vital qualities while dealing with a struggling squad, Maddison added: “When you feel the authenticity of someone who’s passionate for Tottenham and when you see the man who’s steering the ship, when he’s genuine, and not just saying it for the sake of it, you can tell he means that.
“That’s why he says, ‘I have blood inside me, not water’. He always says that. It’s because he’s genuinely passionate about the club.
“Without that appointment, disaster could have maybe struck, but it didn’t and he takes a lot of credit for that because of the work he’s done behind the scenes and on the training pitch.”
