Tottenham Hotspur will play a friendly match against Vissel Kobe on July 27th. Ahead of the game, Spurs midfielder James Maddison attended a press conference with head coach Ange Postecoglou, where he answered questions about the team’s prospects for the new season, his impressions of Japan, and his opinion of former teammate Shinji Okazaki.
What is your impression of Japan?
Madison: We’ve had a brilliant time in Japan and I’m really pleased to be here. It’s my first time in Japan, Tokyo is a great city. We’ve been so well looked after at the hotel and training ground and I’m looking forward to the game now.
Last season was a good season for the team, what are your goals for the future of the club?
Madison: Last season was our first together with the manager and it was a very positive season. I think we learned a new way of playing and a football philosophy, but I think we can’t just be happy with a good season. We need to be pushing for more, making history and actually winning trophies. We come into this season with a new face and with a year of experience under the manager and we’re really pushing on, trying to achieve more than last year.
Before joining Spurs, you spent a year with Shinji Okazaki at Leicester City. Do you still keep in touch with him? Have you texted him since coming to Japan?
Madison: I haven’t texted him yet but I do keep in touch with Shinji, which is one of the great things about social media these days, one of the positives is you can maintain relationships with so many people who have been part of your life. We had a season together, it was my first year in the Premier League, and it feels like ages ago, he played almost like a number 10 at Leicester back then, so I learned a lot from him, he was a champion player, a really good, humble guy. He’s a good friend, a great player, and he was a great dancer on the team trips too, so I had a really good time with him.
What kind of influence have you received from Postecoglou? What do you think is special about him?
Madison: We’ve been working together for a year now, his footballing philosophy is slightly different from my previous managers, a more attacking, proactive type of approach and I think it’s brilliant. I think we can have success, not because he’s sat next to me saying this, I genuinely believe this way of playing can bring success to Tottenham. Even though it’s only been a year, I genuinely believe that.
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