Leicester City midfielder James Maddison has said that the arrival of Tete to the club will now allow him to play in what he believes is his best position, while also outlining the boost that the new signings have given to the club. Speaking after the game, Maddison hailed the impact of Tete, who he described as ‘absolutely brilliant’. He also outlined how the Brazilian will help him personally as well as the team.
James Maddison said: “I’ve heard the gaffer speak about it, it’s nice to have that direct width. I’m a player who’s best centrally and I’ve been playing off the right a little bit and I’ve played well, I’ve kind of learnt the role and I’m happy to play there, but I’m best centrally. I’m at my best when I’m in the middle I think, in them areas. So to have Tete come in and be that threat, and he was absolutely brilliant today, it was a real fiery debut and hopefully he can continue that. But with him and Harvey on the wings, keeping that high width, them runs in behind. When I play off the side I have to play a little bit differently, my skillset is not that of a winger and we kind of mould the team a little bit differently when I’m off the side. But it’s nice to be back central, have the pace and the width from them two and I think it worked well.”
The arrivals of Kristiansen, Tete and Souttar in the transfer window caused excitement among fans. They were also the first permanent arrivals at the club in the winter window for five years. Maddison spoke of the difference that just three new faces can make in the dressing room and the training ground as well as on the pitch.
James Maddison added: “An addition to that is the signings coming in in January, it’s why you need to make signings really, because it gives everyone a lift, it gives you guys, the fans, everyone a lift. But it gives the players a lift as well because you have new players coming in in training and you want to impress, they want to impress, it does give that lift mentally and it’s exactly what you need when you need to push for the second half of the season and we do, because we’re not in the best position in the league and we should be doing better. We’re still in the FA Cup, a good win today and if we can kick on. Like you said, if we do have a good second half of the season it should be a really positive end to it.”
