Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison was once again left out of the starting lineup at the weekend, prompting speculation from former England striker Gary Lineker about a possible behind-the-scenes issue. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker expressed his surprise at Maddison’s continued absence from the first XI, suggesting that there may have been a disagreement between the playmaker and manager Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs managed to salvage a 2-2 draw on Sunday despite initially falling two goals behind. Postecoglou made the bold decision to start without several key players, including Maddison, captain Heung-min Son, young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, and left-back Destiny Udogie. It was a risky call that initially backfired, as Tottenham struggled to impose themselves on the game. However, a second-half revival saw Pape Matar Sarr pull one back before Son converted a late penalty to secure a point.
While Spurs showed resilience to fight back, the overall performance was underwhelming, highlighting the club’s struggles in the Premier League this season. With their hopes of securing a top-four finish all but gone, the focus has now shifted to their Europa League campaign as their only remaining chance of silverware.
Lineker Hints at Possible Rift Between Maddison and Postecoglou
On his podcast, Lineker voiced his confusion over Maddison’s reduced role in recent matches, particularly given the midfielder’s undeniable quality and creativity when on the pitch.
“Maddison is coming off the bench late again, and whenever he plays, he always looks the part and contributes positively. I don’t quite understand what’s going on there,” Lineker said. “I wonder if there’s been a bit of a fall-out.”
Maddison, who joined Tottenham from Leicester City in a £40 million deal last summer, was initially a key figure under Postecoglou, impressing in the early stages of the campaign with his leadership and technical ability. However, since returning from an ankle injury, his role in the team appears to have diminished.
Despite his status as one of the club’s senior players, Maddison has struggled to reclaim his starting spot, especially with the emergence of younger talents in Tottenham’s midfield. While Postecoglou has not publicly addressed any potential issues, Lineker’s comments suggest that there may be more to Maddison’s reduced minutes than simple rotation or tactical decisions.
With crucial Europa League fixtures approaching, it remains to be seen whether Maddison will regain his place in the starting lineup or if this situation will continue to raise questions about his long-term future at the club.
Sadly, His end at Spurs is near”- Gary Lineker thinks £40m Tottenham star may have had major disagreement with Postecoglou after what he’s seen
