"I needed that positive distraction" was how James Maddison described the way home life helped him get through a ruptured ACL and a long layoff. The Tottenham midfielder had five children aged four and under to focus on, including a second set of twins born while he was recovering.

He told the BBC that the stretch away from football was not just a physical problem. "A lot of nappies flying about, a lot of accidents at home, but it'll all be worth it," he said, adding: "We still love it. I wouldn't change it for the world."

Maddison's home life during recovery

Maddison was sidelined by a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he suffered last August, and he said he missed a year of football and a year in a child's life. That is a lot to lose at once, especially when the injury came in the middle of a career season for a player who relies on rhythm and sharpness.

His latest comeback has already included 3 Premier League appearances, with 65 minutes in his most recent league outing. Tottenham have eased him back rather than throwing him straight into heavy minutes, which fits the way Maddison described the recovery process.

De Zerbi's reset at Tottenham

Maddison also spoke warmly about Roberto de Zerbi's arrival in March. He called him "very clever" and "very tactical", but the bigger point was the mood he created.

"He didn't want to make it too complicated. He just wanted us to get the love back for playing football," Maddison said. He also revealed that de Zerbi arranged a team meal where alcohol was allowed and told him he could come on the bench "in my slippers if I wanted".

Tottenham's 41 points and 17th-place finish last season showed how messy things had become before that reset. Maddison did not claim de Zerbi solved everything on his own, and there is no need to overstate it. What he did describe was a calmer environment, one that helped him and the squad feel more like themselves again.

The immediate sign to watch is how Tottenham manage his minutes from here, starting with the next run of league fixtures after those first three appearances back.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →