Leicester City midfielder James Maddison has said that this will be a “big year” for him and his club. He is confident of playing a key role in the Foxes’ Premier League title challenge, with Leicester currently sitting second in the table.
James Maddison is a Leicester City midfielder and has been with the club since 2014. This year, he is looking forward to playing in the Champions League and also reaching 100 games for Leicester City.
In 99 Premier League appearances, James Maddison has scored 21 goals.
In 99 Premier League appearances, James Maddison has scored 21 goals.James Maddison continues his run at Etihad Stadium, drifting out to the left of midfield. Before collecting the ball and going towards goal, he examines his surroundings and realizes he’s in space.
Manchester City’s defenders flee in terror, already shaken by the loss of their early advantage after surrendering three goals each side of halftime. They, on the other hand, were just courting further agony. Maddison comes up on Ederson, opens up his body, and curls a beautiful shot past him.
Pep Guardiola had his biggest home loss since joining the Premier League on September 27, 2024, as Leicester inflicted a 5-2 defeat on him.
Despite the fact that Jamie Vardy had scored a hat-trick, Maddison’s goal – his first since January of that year – had everyone talking. He was a contender for a playmaking position in England’s Euro 2024 team with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.
Things have changed since then. The 24-year-form old’s has deteriorated, and he was severely hindered by a hip injury that cut short his summer campaign. Leicester won the FA Cup, defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the final, although Maddison was only able to make a cameo appearance at Wembley due to his fitness.
Injuries weren’t the only problem; by the conclusion of the season, he’d slipped far behind Grealish and Foden. The Foxes’ inability to qualify for the Champions League, despite being in the top four for the most of the season, was a major setback. There was little outcry when Gareth Southgate announced his England team for the Euros and Maddison was left out. It was the same on Thursday, when he was left out of the 25-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers next month.
‘Grealish is leagues ahead of him,’ says the narrator.
Before suffering a hip injury, James Maddison was a contender for a spot in England’s Euro 2024 team with Jack Grealish.
While Foden was seen as a thorn in City’s offensive bow, Maddison and Grealish, who has since joined the Premier League champions from Aston Villa, were regarded as the team’s main creative powers.
Maddison’s production was not only falling behind both potential England opponents, but also his own results from two seasons before, according to Opta. Despite playing five less league games than in 2018-19, he generated 51 opportunities for his teammates last season, compared to 100 the previous season. His dribble completion rate fell from 61.7 percent to 54.7 percent as his dribble attempts dropped from 88 to 55.
In 2024-21, Foden scored nine goals and added five assists in 17 Premier League appearances; Maddison scored one less goal but added the same number of assists despite starting seven more games. Despite having the fewest league appearances of the three, Grealish scored six goals and created the most goals (10) and opportunities (81).
Premier League champion Chris Sutton was critical of Maddison’s performance on Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club program on August 9th.
“By his standards, I felt he had a terrible season and I think he let Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers down,” Sutton remarked. “Towards the conclusion of the season, there was a game against West Ham when he was out partying; he wasn’t the only one.”
“Leicester lost the game, and they were knocked out of the Champions League.” In essence, I believe the game was a trigger. Last season, I don’t believe Brendan was really persuaded by Maddison.
“There’s no question Maddison was ahead of Grealish at one point, but Grealish has suddenly leapfrogged him and is miles ahead of him.”
“A few of seasons ago, Grealish was a ‘Jack the boy,’ but he’s knuckled down and become very professional.”
“On the other hand, Maddison needs to improve his performance. Take a look at what England manager Gareth Southgate has said about him. He might have been a member of the Euros squad. He wasn’t, for a variety of reasons.
“For James Maddison, this is a pivotal season. We know he has the ability; now he must demonstrate it and repay Brendan Rodgers.”
‘His development has been slowed by injuries.’
A series of injuries have hindered James Maddison’s career.
Grealish joined City for £100 million after becoming one of the faces of England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, despite starting the majority of the games on the bench. This summer, Maddison has been linked with Arsenal, but no details have surfaced, and Rodgers rejected the idea as “gossip” over the weekend.
Rodgers acknowledged Grealish had moved away from Maddison after Leicester’s second Wembley triumph in as many months, against Manchester City in the Community Shield earlier this month, but trusted his player to recover from a tough period in his career.
“I believe they’re both close,” Rodgers said, “and they’re both extremely good guys.” “However, James has been unlucky; he has experienced a series of injuries that have slowed his development.”
“Trying to maintain that fitness will be a huge year for him, and you’ll need a little luck with that as well.”
“However, you saw how diligently he works for the team.” You can see his talent and how he handles the ball, as well as his keen eye for the final pass.
“He has a fantastic skill. All he can do now is play regularly at the top level for Leicester and see where it leads him.”
‘Whatever life throws at him, he takes it in stride and makes the most of it.’
Maddison started his professional career at Coventry City, his local club.
Maddison has never been short on setbacks, but she also hasn’t been short on self-confidence. Elite football has not come easily for him, like it did for many others in his age.
His career started with his local club, Coventry City, where he made his debut at the age of 17, before moving on to Norwich City and then Leicester City after a brief loan stint with Aberdeen in Scotland. He has put forth the effort.
Richard Stevens, who trained Maddison as a youngster at the Coventry academy, knows him better than most. He currently coaches West Bromwich Albion’s youth system, but he stays in contact with his former player and keeps track of his development.
Stevens says Sport, “He’s never not been the greatest trainer.” “He’s always been motivated, but his ability is something he’s been working on since he was five, six, or seven years old.”
“Some of the minor challenges he’s faced during his career have molded him into the person he is now. He has been a member of a top-six Premier League club for the last two years. The injuries he’s sustained have come at a terrible moment, preventing him from being considered for the England squad in the summer.”
Despite the fact that he had to wait for physical development, Stevens believes Maddison’s personality was a wonderful leveler. He’s always been the center of attention.
Stevens adds, “Whatever he was at 11, he is still at 24.” “He was little in comparison to his teammates, but his character was as large as any of them, if not more. He was in an excellent group; they were competitive and brutally honest with one another. Six of them have played for Coventry City’s first team, which is a significant achievement for an academy.
“They were the ones that established the bar, and James was there in the midst of it. He was the ringleader and the voice; he insisted that everything go through him, yet he also worked well with others.”
If there was ever a test of Maddison’s mental fortitude, it occurred when Stevens refused to give him a scholarship deal at Coventry University when he was a youngster. Doubts might have festered and developed, but the coach was pleased by Maddison’s inner confidence, which is why he thinks he can get back on track this season.
Stevens chuckles, “James was one of the last ones I gave a contract to in his age group.” “I wanted to keep him waiting since I knew he was starving.” There was never a question in my mind that I’d offer him one. I still have no idea what I was thinking!
“You have to reveal your hand in today’s market; you can’t play that game as I did with James.” He was aware that he would be offered a contract, and his family was very supportive.
“He had an incredible talent, but you have no idea what football is like.” There weren’t many young players on the first team at the time. It was difficult to predict how far he would go, but once he reached the heights he did as a 17-year-old, you knew he would establish his own limits.
“Whatever life throws at him, he takes it in stride and makes the most of it.” He has incredible tenacity. He has the ability and attitude to constantly push himself to the next level.
“He has a confident demeanor about him. It’s not arrogance. He’s just realizing that he has all he needs to succeed. That can be seen in the way he plays. Give him the ball and he’ll attempt to make something happen wherever on the field.”
If Maddison wants to recover his upward trajectory, he must improve. With that goal against Manchester City last year, he demonstrated his talent, and he’ll feel he can come back stronger than before.
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