De Zerbi let us bond over a few beers - Maddison

WHAT HAPPENED
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has said manager Roberto de Zerbi allowed the squad to spend time socialising with beers as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League campaign. Maddison made the remarks in a BBC Sport video feature.

Maddison also noted the team's aim to better their league standing after finishing 17th last season.

KEY CONTEXT
- Maddison is identified in the report as a Tottenham midfielder.
- The comments were made in the run-up to the new Premier League season and were part of a BBC Sport video item.
- The pairing of a coach encouraging informal team time and a stated objective to improve on a low league finish frames the club’s pre-season messaging.

WHY IT MATTERS
- Pre-season and team bonding are commonly discussed as factors that can affect squad cohesion and performance; Maddison’s description highlights the manager’s hands-off approach to socialising.
- The team’s declared aim to climb above 17th place sets a clear performance expectation for the season.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether the manager’s approach to team bonding translates into on-field improvement this season.
- Tottenham’s early league results will be the first indicator of progress toward surpassing last season’s 17th-place finish.

KEY FACTS
- Source reports James Maddison spoke to BBC Sport.
- Maddison is described as a Tottenham midfielder.
- He said Roberto de Zerbi allowed the squad to socialise with beers before the season.
- The team hope to improve on a 17th-place finish from the previous campaign.