James Maddison praises Mathys Tel and De Zerbi's squad dynamics

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has offered praise for teammate Mathys Tel, echoing sentiments previously shared by Sandro Tonali. Despite Tel struggling to register goals or assists early in the season, Maddison described the forward as having ‘super quick feet’ and being highly effective in one-on-one situations during training.

Maddison suggested that if the team can provide Tel with more opportunities to face defenders directly, his impact in the Premier League will increase. This comes as the club adopts a more attacking style of football under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

In separate training ground observations, Maddison also joked about the close relationship between De Zerbi and defender JP Van Hecke. Highlighting their history from Brighton, Maddison noted that Van Hecke receives a ‘different sort of hug’ from the manager compared to other players, jokingly labeling him the manager’s ‘teacher’s pet’ within the squad.