MusaJames Maddison marked his first start in 18 months with a goal during Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 victory over Coventry on Monday night, and the playmaker retained his place in the starting XI for the clash at Stamford Bridge. He delivered another impressive performance in the first half as Spurs looked to maintain control against Chelsea.
However, concerns emerged just seven minutes into the second half when Maddison appeared to signal towards the bench before being substituted for Conor Gallagher.
Speaking after the match, Roberto De Zerbi admitted that the midfielder’s condition needed to be assessed, although he hoped the issue was not serious.
“I hope he didn’t feel a big problem, but we have to make a medical check,” De Zerbi said. “Maddison and Kulusevski, we have to manage them like two diamonds, because both are special players, both have different personalities.”
The Tottenham boss was asked about Maddison again during his post-match press conference and reiterated the importance of checking the midfielder’s fitness before drawing any conclusions about the potential injury.
“We need to do the medical check tomorrow, after tomorrow, I don’t know. I hope it’s not a big problem because he’s a special player for us. We need him,” De Zerbi added.
Maddison’s early withdrawal will therefore be a concern for Tottenham, particularly after his encouraging return to the starting line-up. The midfielder has only recently resumed regular involvement following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, making his fitness an important consideration as Spurs look to build momentum.
For now, Tottenham will await the results of the medical assessment to determine whether Maddison has suffered a significant setback or whether his substitution was simply a precaution.
Musa
