Tottenham Hotspur continued their momentum from the West Ham game at the weekend as they kept their perfect European record for the season intact with a win against AZ Alkmaar yesterday night with a 1-0 score line at White Hart Lane as under-fire Brazilian international, Richarlison, scored the sole goal of the fixture.
The 27-year-old has been a frustrating figure in the Hotspur Way camp owing to his consistent injury problems complemented by his inconsistency in front of goal, and in a bid to push his confidence, James Maddison handed Richy his penalty in yesterday’s win.
Maddison hands penalty to struggling forward
Maddison was wearing the armband yesterday as Spurs played a highly changed side and the former Leicester City midfielder gave up the penalty to Richarlison. And at the final whistle, the 53rd-minute spot-kick proved to be the difference between both sides.
Maddison was quizzed about the decision in his post-game interview, where he asserted that, being a senior presence in the squad, he would have given the penalty to the Brazilian international even if he wasn’t wearing the armband.
Speaking with TNT Sports after the game, Maddison said (via BBC Sport):
“Initially we both wanted to take it. I’m a senior player, I was captain today, I was going to take it, but I thought Richarlison has come back from an injury, it’s difficult for a striker – a first goal gives confidence.
“It was a split-second decision to let him take it. [It’s] leadership, obviously I wore the armband but even if I wasn’t the captain I would still like to think I would make a decision that is best for the team. Hopefully, that gives him a big boost.”
The gesture from Madison is something that shows the unity in the squad, and it could just help kick-start Richy’s rejuvenation at Hotspur Way following ample struggles in recent months. This act shows the how the England international that could prove crucial for Tottenham in the coming time as the Brazilian starts to get some opportunities as an understudy to Dominic Solanke at White Hart Lane.
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Do you think yesterday’s pen will help Richardson gain a confidence boost? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
