Roberto De Zerbi has moved to calm fears over the James Maddison injury after the England international was taken off early in the second half of Tottenham’s 2-0 win at Chelsea.
Maddison was making only his second start of the season at Stamford Bridge. He was withdrawn shortly after the break and walked straight down the tunnel, which left Spurs supporters nervously waiting for news.
It was otherwise a night to enjoy for the Lilywhites, who won at Stamford Bridge for only the second time in the Premier League era. Mathys Tel produced a fine goal and Mike Penders put through his own net. Our full report on the Chelsea 0-2 Tottenham win has all the detail.
What did De Zerbi say about the James Maddison injury?
Speaking after the game, De Zerbi played down the severity of the problem while admitting he does not yet have the full picture, as reported by Football London.
De Zerbi said: “I think it’s not a very important problem. We need to do the medical check tomorrow, after tomorrow, I don’t know. I hope it’s not a big problem because he’s a special player for us. We need him.”
Nights like these 🤍 pic.twitter.com/l7Csd6ycGu
– Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 24, 2026
Is the Maddison injury another worry for Tottenham?
The timing will sting. Maddison has been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons and has barely played competitive football in that time. A start against Chelsea was a small step back into the rhythm of the side, and now there is another question mark over his availability.
Setbacks like this are natural when a player is returning from a long-term injury, but it is becoming a real problem for Tottenham. De Zerbi’s words suggest the club are not panicking, yet the medical check will tell us far more than a post-match assessment can.
It is also a subject the Italian has been open about recently. He stood up for the club’s doctors earlier in the week, as we covered in our piece on De Zerbi defending Tottenham’s medical staff, and the scrutiny on that department will only grow if Maddison is ruled out for any length of time.
For more on how the squad is shaping up, see the club’s own updates at tottenhamhotspur.com.
Author Opinion
De Zerbi calling it “not a very important problem” is the best possible start, and the way he talked about Maddison shows how much the manager wants him on the pitch. The England man is a special talent when he is fit, which is exactly why every injury feels so costly. Spurs fans will be hoping the medical check brings good news and that this is a short absence rather than another long spell on the sidelines.
