Roberto de Zerbi pulled every trick—from informal counselling to team dinners and a Marbella sunshine retreat—to rekindle the missing spark at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs finally escaped the bottom after a 3‑1 triumph over Coventry, thanks to James Maddison’s first start in 18 months.
He’d missed most of last season with an ACL tear in pre‑season, then broke his shoulder in the opening defeat at Brentford this campaign.
The 29‑year‑old returned to the starting XI against Coventry and delivered a spectacular performance that could spark the season.
Maddison barely hid his grin in the warm‑up, then, in the 14th minute, unleashed a 20‑yard right‑foot strike from Mohammed Kudus’ pass, soaring over keeper Carl Rushworth.
The goal drew gasps of admiration from the crowd, replayed repeatedly on the stadium’s big screens.
Maddison shines on return – Tottenham vs Coventry ratings
Even against his former side, he celebrated with his signature imaginary dart toss before kissing the Spurs badge.
Spurs have won just 12 of 57 league games since his last top‑flight goal, a 1‑0 win over Manchester United in February 2025, averaging under a point per match.
Since his previous start at Liverpool on 27 April 2025, they have secured only 11 wins from 49 league fixtures, suffering 23 defeats.
The win was far from glorious – it marked only their sixth victory in the last 37 home league games (10 draws, 21 losses) and just the fourth league win of 2026 after 27 matches (10 draws, 13 losses).
It was also the first time they’ve netted three or more at home since opening last season with a 3‑0 win over Burnley in Thomas Frank’s debut.
Too many nerves still linger around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and within De Zerbi’s squad.
The margin helped; Jack Rudoni equalised for Coventry before Omar Marmoush scored his first club goal, and Ben Davies added a stoppage‑time strike after a costly Rushworth error.
Beyond Maddison’s return, Dejan Kulusevski finally appeared as an 87th‑minute sub for Kudus, ending a 526‑day knee injury layoff.
Maddison earned a standing ovation when subbed for Conor Gallagher after 69 minutes, but Kulusevski’s reaction was arguably even louder after his long fitness battle.
For my money, Maddison’s upbeat play provided the refreshing lift Tottenham desperately needed, earning him the bulk of the praise.
He constantly pressed, probing and creating chances until fatigue set in after the break.
“I just wanted to play well and show my abilities, show what the team has missed the last 18 months. The gaffer asked me to play and wanted to enjoy watching from the side. Hopefully I did that, and a goal is always nice,”
If his goal was to showcase what Spurs have lacked, he certainly delivered.
Marmoush will also gain confidence from his curling strike, another superb effort that left Rushworth helpless.
De Zerbi knows this is only the beginning, with a tough away clash at Chelsea on Saturday at 17:30 BST.
He praised the returns, saying: “They are different players, different talents, different personalities. With them in the dressing room there is a different atmosphere.”
Victories are what truly transform the locker room and beyond.
Now the club can finally build on three points, and the sight of Maddison and Kulusevski back should help accelerate improvement after recent misery. Can the momentum carry them through the Chelsea test?