James Maddison’s substitution at half-time during Tottenham’s Premier League match against West Ham was a tactical decision, confirmed by Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. Despite initial concerns that Maddison might have picked up an injury after a knock late in the first half, it was later clarified that his removal was purely strategic. Spurs were level at 1-1 going into the break after Dejan Kulusevski scored, and Postecoglou felt a change was needed to inject more energy into the midfield. He brought on Pape Sarr, who provided the extra running power Postecoglou wanted.
The change worked as Spurs dominated the second half, scoring three goals in just 15 minutes. Yves Bissouma, Jean-Clair Todibo (own goal), and Son Heung-min all found the net, turning the match decisively in Tottenham’s favor. Postecoglou praised the team’s energy in the second half, explaining that the adjustment paid off as Spurs secured a 4-1 victory.
After the game, Postecoglou said, “It was tactical. We needed more running power in midfield, and Pape Sarr gave us that, which really helped in the second half.”
