James Maddison is the latest example of what Roberto De Zerbi is getting right

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Kickjolly · AI-written · automatically reviewed · Hotspur HQ ↗

Tottenham Hotspur's attacking midfielder James Maddison is crucial to the team, as seen in their best scoring day of the season against Coventry where he scored and created chances. Maddison started the following week against Chelsea but was pulled out after 50 minutes due to a groin injury. He had missed practice sessions prior to the game with an apparent injury.

Roberto De Zerbi is taking a cautious approach with Maddison, holding him out of the starting lineup against Crystal Palace and not giving him minutes off the bench. This decision is part of De Zerbi's strategy to create a more resilient team that can perform without key players. De Zerbi is prioritizing the long-term health and performance of players like Maddison.

By giving Maddison an extra week of rest before the game against Leeds United, De Zerbi is potentially saving him from further injury aggravation. Maddison is expected to be fresher and available for minutes against Leeds, which is significant as Tottenham need him against tougher opponents. The team has shown they can win without Maddison, as seen in their victory over Crystal Palace.