Maddison on decision to give Richarlison the penalty in AZ win
Thu 24 October 2024, 23:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
James Maddison has explained his decision to let Richarlison take the penalty in our 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.
The match-winning goal on the night in the Europa League, Richy stepped up and dispatched the penalty on 53 minutes for his first of the campaign, but there was some debate over who would take the spot-kick after it had been awarded.
Without our designated penalty kick taker Heung-Min Son, who was rested for the game, the spot kick was essentially up for grabs with the decision for who would take it resting in the hands of our captain on the night, James Maddison.
As the skipper, Madders was in line to take it but, speaking to broadcaster TNT Sports after the game, the midfielder revealed he had a second thought on the situation, feeling it would instead do Richy 'a world of good' to take the spot-kick after his recent lengthy injury lay-off.
"Initially, we both wanted to take it," Madders admitted. "I’m a senior player. I’m the captain today. I was going to take the penalty then I had a little thought in my head.
“I stood there and had a little conversation with myself and just thought 'Richy has just come back from an injury. That can be difficult, especially for a striker. I knew that last year, when I had a long injury, it took me a while to get my first goal and that really gives confidence’
“So, a split-second decision to let him take it, but that’ll do him the world of good.”
“I thought we had Neymar on the left wing!”
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 24, 2024
James Maddison reacts to another win for Tottenham in the Europa League, and Mikey Moore's quality performance 👏
🎙: @JeffBrazier pic.twitter.com/L5takR9rH6
