Tottenham Hotspur’s vice-captain James Maddison has expressed his burning desire to lead his team to their first major trophy since 2008, as they prepare for a crucial Europa League semi-final clash against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, Maddison emphasized his determination to reward the club’s loyal supporters by securing European silverware.
Maddison, who has been a pivotal figure in Spurs’ European campaign this season, acknowledged the team’s disappointing Premier League form, including a recent 5-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. However, he believes the Europa League presents a golden opportunity to salvage the season and deliver a long-awaited trophy. “People talk all the time about Tottenham being without silverware for however many years, but we’re in the last four, and we’ve got a great opportunity in a competition we’ve been pretty solid in this year,” Maddison said. “We want to reward [the fans] because we feel the support.”
The midfielder’s leadership has been evident both on and off the pitch. Despite sustaining an injury in the quarter-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt—where he won a decisive penalty after a collision with goalkeeper Kaua Santos—Maddison has recovered and is expected to play a key role against Bodø/Glimt. His resilience and commitment have earned praise from manager Ange Postecoglou, who described the semi-final as “an unbelievable opportunity” for the club to reach their sixth European final.
Maddison also voiced unwavering support for Postecoglou, whose high-pressing, attacking philosophy has faced scrutiny amid Spurs’ 15th-place standing in the Premier League. “He’s the first person to tell you, and I’ll tell you myself, we’ve had a poor season in the league,” Maddison admitted. “But the squad is 100 per cent behind the head coach—a great man.”
Tottenham’s journey to the semi-finals has been marked by gritty performances, including a 2-1 aggregate win over Frankfurt, where Maddison’s bravery in the penalty area proved decisive. Now, with the chance to reach the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, 2025, the 28-year-old is determined to inspire his teammates. “At the end of games when you’ve lost again, you go over to thank the fans, and I know they don’t want to hear it,” he said. “We want to give them something to cheer about.”