James Maddison shares the game where Ange Postecoglou went nuts at Tottenham’s players

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James Maddison has now revealed that Ange Postecoglou saw it necessary to deliver a stern message to his Tottenham players during pre-season.

Maddison was speaking via football.london after the Fulham win and reminisced a specific Tottenham match in pre-season.

The England international recalled the 5-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of August as the game in which Postecoglou made a concerted point.

Maddison said: “It’s one of the main messages to be fair.

“The manager has always had front foot pressing teams and since the first day he came in he said pressing high is a non negotiable at any stage of the game.

“I think we had a game in pre season where we were 1-0 or 2-0 up and we sat in a little bit and he went ballistic at half time.

“I think it was Shakhtar here [at home], and he said that’s almost how Tottenham have been in the past, trying to protect a lead.

“And he said that’s a non-negotiable to keep pressing and we go and score three or four, so it’s a conscious thing on mine and the team’s mind that no matter what the score is.”

Maddison realised Postecoglou was serious about his message at Tottenham

Whilst Postecoglou seems like a very amicable character from the outside, you would imagine many managers need to assert their authority on occasion.

And given Maddison’s words, it would seem that Postecoglou’s message got through to the Tottenham players.

Moreover, it’s pertinent that Maddison mentioned one of Postecoglou’s non-negotiables after a second half in which Ange was disappointed with his side.

The manager had to thank Guglielmo Vicario for his outstanding work as Spurs became sloppy in the second half.

And given Maddison is in the Tottenham leadership group with Son Heung-Min, he must feel responsible for relaying Postecoglou’s message.

Nonetheless, this budding Spurs squad did probably learn an important lesson last night, even if they came away with a win and a clean sheet.

And Spurs captain Son also took something away from the game.

The 31-year-old has now admitted his regret at his reaction to being subbed off before the full-time whistle.