Back for his first start since 1 May, 2025, the playmaker marked the occasion doing what he does best – scoring elite goals. This time, one of the hardest finishes in football, curling in to our into the top corner to open the scoring in our 3-1 win against Coventry City.
Add to the mix Dejan Kulusevski’s return – his last action, 11 May, 2025 – a much-needed win and the fact the Sky Blues are Madders’ boyhood and hometown club, where he began his career back in 2013, and you can see why he was going through all the emotions.
Q1 | How special was it to be back out there in the starting XI?
James: “That was an amazing feeling. It's been such a long time since I played from the start – Bodo Glimt here in the Europa League semi-final almost 18 months ago. So, a special feeling. I was a bit nervous before, especially with it being against Coventry. I had a box full of about 20 people today, all my friends and family, who I don't think will be too happy with me because they're all big Cov fans! But is was a special feeling and one I won't forget.”
Q2 | Tell us about the overall performance – is that your best goal in a Spurs shirt?
James: “That's probably the best one so far, yes - so far. There's more to come. Overall, we played some good stuff at times and we struggled a little bit at times. It was quite tight in there. They're really compact team away from home. I was just proud of how we went into the lead, they came back, and then that's when we probably haven't shown enough personality and discipline to carry on doing the right things when we have a bit of adversity, you know? They scored, but we kicked on again and got a foothold back in the game. Happy happy for Omar (Marmoush, made it 2-1) as well, scoring his first goal and then Ben (Davies, scored the third) to top it off. There were some nervy, edgy moments towards the end, but we were resilient. The home form obviously hasn't been good enough, so that's something that we need to… you need to have a little spark from somewhere. Sometimes it takes a result like that where you have to grind it out a little bit and be a little bit on the back foot towards the end. They feel just as good.”
Q3 | What was the overriding feeling like at the end?
James: “A bit of everything. There's happiness, there's a lot of emotion because it was my first start in 18 months and scored. Omar scored his first goal. Kulusevski coming back - I'm so, so happy for him because I've seen the journey he's been on. So, there's a lot of emotion and relief from Ben's goal going in and that sigh of relief to get that little cushion. Coventry were pushing, they're a great side. So, a bit of everything. Our fans are amazing because when we went behind and then we had a couple of attacks and I was trying to gee them up and they responded. I was giving it the raise of the arms to get them going and they responded, we got a bit of pressure and it led to the second goal. They were brilliant and hopefully that can kick-start a nice run for us.”
Q4 | What did you think about Deki’s return?
James: “Honestly, I was a bit emotional there. I've seen the journey he's been on. We had a whole season out together, both of us, together. I came back at the end of last season and he was still struggling a little bit. He's honestly one of the most hard-working blokes ever. He's a bit of a nutjob! He's a bit crazy and I don't think he'll mind me saying that, but he is so hard-working and he's so honest and just raw. He's just a good human being. I was so happy when he came on, I was just stood up clapping because like I said, I've seen first-hand, up close and personal, the emotions that he's been through. I also think back to the Leeds game (last season) where I came back, it took me back there as well. So, I gave him a big hug at the end because he deserved that.”
Q5 | It felt like that was a special moment for you – there's such a connection with the fans…
James: “The fans have shown so much love to me over the past 18 months when I haven't been available to play, and that's like… I just want to repay that. I know I've still got so much to give and the quality I have, I want to show to them. I want to show more and more. I'm only 29, I've still got many years left. So, yeah, hopefully I can repay that over the next however long.”