At a glance:
- Daniel Farke says Maddison call wasn’t a penalty
- Englishman accused of exaggerating contact
- Maddison worked with Farke at Norwich City
Daniel Farke was sick before the game but was on the touchline to see Leeds United secure a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in North London.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side knew a win at home would have taken them four points clear of West Ham, but it wasn’t to be as the Peacocks produced a fighting display on their travels.
Mathys Tel broke the deadlock with a fantastic long-range finish before Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s second-half penalty drew Leeds level.
Aside from the game, the biggest talking point for Tottenham was the return of James Maddison, who took to the pitch after more than a year out with an ACL injury.
And the Englishman was in the centre of the action as he went down with a late penalty claim.
Daniel Farke makes big James Maddison claim
Farke and Maddison worked together at Norwich, where the Englishman was crowned Canaries Player of the Year.
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After that, he moved to Leicester City and then to Tottenham after the Foxes suffered relegation.
Speaking after the game, Farke described Maddison as a dangerous customer as he returned to action after a long spell out.
However, he didn’t pull any punches with his assessment of the Englishman in terms of the penalty call.
Late in the game, Maddison tried to beat Felix Nmecha in the box and went down as the Tottenham players surrounded the referee to get a penalty.
However, after consultation with the VAR, Nmecha’s challenge was adjudged to have been fair as he got a slight touch on the ball.
And Farke feels he knows how ‘smart’ Maddison is as he appeared to exaggerate contact to win his side a crucial spot kick.
“James was my player when he was pretty young at Norwich,” said Farke in his post-match press conference.
“I know how smart he is. He knows what he has to do to win something for his team. Perhaps it was a nit light how he went down.”
Maddison’s return invaluable for Tottenham
With just two Premier League games to go, Maddison is likely to feature against both Chelsea and Everton.
Any involvement in the games will be a big boost for Tottenham as he is one of the most creative players in the country.
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And that is exactly what Farke feels as he went on to sing the Englishman’s praises.
“Yes I’m so happy and delighted for him. It’s great to see him back because if you love football and you love a baller, then you also love James Maddison.
“He can be unbelievable and is one of the most creative players in this country.
“Of course, it was difficult for him after being out for so long to come into this crunch moment, but the effect he can have, he has shown in the last minutes.
“He was smart, he knows how to win a free-kick or what he has to do in the box, perhaps to win a penalty. Great set pieces, great delivery, a top character. Fingers crossed he can stay fit and healthy.”
