Matchday Minus Two Talking Points: Maddison Free-Kicks, Weathering The Storm & Team Pressing
The England youth international is set for a second season in England’s top flight, and with the new term getting underway this weekend, he spoke of his excitement about a return to King Power Stadium.
Joining former City skipper Taggart and presenter Dan Bates in the LCFC TV studio on Friday, Maddison was on hand to emphasise the togetherness of the Foxes squad, his midfield partnership with Youri Tielemans and his side’s intense style of play.
Preparations on course
James Maddison said: “Training was good. We’re looking at the weekend and we know Wolves had a game last night in the Europa League. We’ll be looking at their strengths and weaknesses and looking forward to the big build-up. You can’t replicate Premier League football. The Atalanta game was fantastic, and the fans turned out, but nothing can replicate that opening day atmosphere. Everything we’ve worked on over the last eight weeks comes into fruition now and we’ve got to go and put on a show.”
Second half development
Gerry Taggart said: “With the new players coming in now, with Youri Tielemans here at the back end of last season, Ayoze Pérez has shined especially in pre-season. Sometimes it’s not how you start games, it’s how you finish and that’s been the tale of the tape this pre-season for Leicester. In the second half, the games have been about attacking football. There are lots of exciting games ahead.”
On the same wavelength
James Maddison said: “You watch Youri for 15 minutes and he just oozes quality on the pitch. He plays in a similar position to me and we’re on the same wavelength. He’s a fantastic guy, a lovely guy. When you get someone like that on the pitch, you just click, and you find each other. He’ll play little passes around the corner and he doesn’t even need to look. It’s a partnership that I’m looking forward to. I come alive when he gets the ball.”
Premier League bow
James Maddison said: “I loved every minute of last season. It was my dream as a young boy to play in the Premier League and as soon as Leicester came in, I wanted to get it done. I was like a kid at Christmas. It was a season I was happy with looking back on but one that was a marking point. I was happy when I look back on my season with my output, with seven goals and seven assists. Hopefully I can improve on those stats and help the team. I try and keep my targets shorter-term because I think you can get better results that way.”
Practice makes perfect
James Maddison said: “That’s why I was five minutes late today, because me and Vards (Jamie Vardy) were practicing free-kicks! Beckham was the icon figure for me when I was growing up. He was the best at free-kicks. If It means taking one or two extra free-kicks in training, then I’ll be out there until the gaffer calls me in. I always practice – practice makes perfect, as they say.”
Weather the storm
Gerry Taggart said: “It’s going to be vitally important for Leicester to grind out results against the tough teams. Atalanta’s style of football bamboozled Leicester in the first 15 minutes, but we’re going to come up against that this season and that’s what we’re going to have to learn to deal with. It’s part of football at the end of the day, you have to weather the storm. You can’t dominate games from start to finish.”
Listen and learn
James Maddison said: “It’s about listening and learning to what the gaffer wants. He stated in the press that it would be brilliant for him to have a full pre-season so he can drill into us what he wants. It’s about going with the team and their intensity. It’s about pressing as a team and not letting your team down. If I see Vards pressing the goalkeeper, then I have to press the next man, otherwise I’ve let my team-mates down. That’s what we’re all about.”
City’s togetherness
James Maddison said: “I’ll never forget my first week. I came in injured and I was in the physio room not training with the lads, but it didn’t matter. No matter what they’d make the effort to say hello. That’s not just the players, but everyone from the kitman to the coach driver. Not everyone is like that, but that’s just how it is at this football club. It’s a great sign within the squad.”
An intriguing game
Gerry Taggart said: “It’s an intriguing game for everybody this Sunday. The first 10 or 15 minutes might be a bit cagey, but then that’s where the fans come in. The fans will get behind the players and the players will respond. They’re two teams that are evenly matched. You’ve got to look at both teams. Leicester have brought in quality and Wolves have a great side as well. The quality in the end will show through, and that composure when you’re under pressure is going to be vital.”
Live and free coverage of Sunday's match will be available from 11am BST on Sunday on LCFC Radio.