James Maddison says Ange Postecoglou is ‘different’ to anyone he’s worked with before after the Australian’s impressive start as Tottenham manager.
Postecoglou was a surprise appointment at Spurs during the summer, but the former Celtic coach has made a strong start in north London with the club unbeaten in five Premier League games.
Postecoglou’s positive football has earned him admirers in the early part of his reign at Spurs and the 58-year-old was named as the Premier League’s Manager of the Month for August. Ahead of this weekend’s north London derby at Arsenal, Maddison has heaped praise on the Spurs boss.
“He’s a bit different to anyone I’ve worked with before,” the midfielder told Sky Sports.
“He’s a down-to-the-point, straight-talking man and as a player that’s what you want. You want honesty, someone to tell you how it is.
“He is really good at [motivational speeches]. You come out of a meeting with him ready to run through a wall. He’s a very motivational speaker and it’s a big quality of his. He gets all the players wanting to go and work for him. Everyone is on board and ready to work.
Maddison was named as the Premier League’s Player of the Month after his own impressive start at Spurs and the England international admits it has been an easy transition since his arrival from Leicester during the summer.
“It can be a difficult transition when you move to a new club. A new style of play, new surroundings but it’s been fairly easy transition and that’s down to the people at the club, the manager, the players – they’ve warmed to me early on – the fans. It’s been an easy transition and one I’m loving.
“I’m feeling free, like I’m able to go and express myself and that comes from the manager and his coaching staff and the other squad members. I feel myself. Sometimes when you have new players come in it’s almost like they try too hard to impress or try to do a bit too much to impress their team-mates or manager but they’ve made me feel so at ease I’ve just been myself naturally.”
