5Q | James Maddison in Sydney: “We’re so far away from home, we’ve travelled so far, but the support is just amazing”

As well as being one of the best playmakers around, James Maddison is a huge football fan – and appreciates the support we get from all corners of the globe.

So, it was no surprise that he spoke about the ‘amazing support’ he’s seen on his travels to Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and now Australia again since joining us in the summer of 2023.

Now we’re in Sydney, and ‘Madders’ will soon be playing in front our Aussie fans again and OzSpurs, one of our biggest global Official Supporters Clubs, that brings together ‘chapters’ of fans from every city across this huge country all united in their love of Spurs.

First up, A-League side Sydney FC at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday, followed by more familiar foes in Chelsea at the Accor Stadium on Saturday – both matches kick-off at 10.45am UK.

Madders spoke to local media in Sydney on Tuesday morning, local time – here’s what he had to say…

Q1 | What are your experiences of Australia?

Madders: “The first time I came to Australia was with Tottenham actually, when I first joined Spurs. We went to Perth and Melbourne as well, for a post-season game against Newcastle. We’re excited to be here, we’re looking forward to the games and it will be a good challenge for us.”

James Maddison at the famous WACA ground in Perth in 2023

Q2 | How does it feel to come to the other side of the world and know that there are so many Spurs fans here supporting you guys?

Madders: “It’s amazing. We’re followed so brilliantly worldwide. I think every trip and every tour I’ve been on since I’ve been at the club has been… sometimes it wows you when you arrive and you actually see the support. We’re so far away from home, we travel so far, but the support is just amazing. It makes you appreciate and be grateful that we’re at this club. It’s such a massive club and we’re followed brilliantly everywhere.”

James Maddison signs autographs at Eden Park

Q3 | What have you made of your time in Sydney so far?

Madders: “It’s been good. We’ve had a couple of wanders. The people are so friendly here. Like I said earlier, we’re followed so well, the people are so friendly and so passionate and so looking forward to the football. It’s been a while since we’ve been here – over 10 years, I think, since we’ve been in Sydney (it was post-season, May 2015). We met some fans when we arrived. They had come from other parts of Australia, which is also long travel. I get the feeling there’s excitement for us to be here. We’re looking forward to playing in front of the fans and putting on a show for them.”

James Maddison takes part in our welcome to country ceremony in Auckland

Q4 | What are you personally and the team looking to get out of this pre-season tour?

Madders: “Preparation, it’s just great preparation. It’s the only chance we get to come on these trips and these tours to see our fans around the world. We’re preparing for the first game of the season against Brentford (22 August). It’s a big season for us under a new manager. We want to have a successful season. We need to be better than the last couple of seasons. This is all preparation leading to that first game. The games against Sydney and Chelsea, we’re just stepping up the preparation and what we’ve been working on, creating the team how we want to play and the style we want to play.”

James Maddison at Eden Park

Q5 | You just touched on it – last season was tough. Thinking of optimism and excitement for fans, what are the goals for this upcoming season?

Madders: “The manager is very clear that the goals are to be better, to play better football, to be passionate, to be proud to play for this club. I think if we listen to his style, the way he wants, his principles, I think if you keep the short-term targets of trying to be better and trying to implement the way he will play, the long-term targets will be better. It’s just a matter of still learning the way he plays. As a player, he’s a coach we want to play for because he loves everything with the ball, very attacking. I’m really excited.”

How will we fare against Sydney FC? Play the Predictor