“Unacceptable and embarrassing”: Tottenham’s Maddison rues final day relegation scrap | OneFootball

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has labelled their relegation scrap with rivals West ham on the final day of the Premier League season “unacceptable and embarrassing” after failing to secure safety in their defeat to Chelsea.

Blues captain Enzo Fernández powered his side in front from distance before setting up Brazilian teammate Andrey Santos in the second half, with Richarlison’s late strike making it 2-1 but falling short of relegating the Hammers this evening.

Maddison, who managed to put 25 minutes in the tank coming off the bench, 20 more than he had managed all season having ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during preseason in August, said Tottenham will need everyone to beat the drop.

He said: “It’s unacceptable and a little embarrassing that we’re in this position at Tottenham Hotspur, but it’s the reality and it’s up to us to get out of it. It’s non-negotiable, we have to for this club.

“Sunday’s going to be a big day, so we’ll need everyone. We’re going to need our fans, who were unbelievable today, by the way, even at 2-0 you could here them. We have the best away support in the league, and we need to repay them.

“Any sort of result tonight would be very beneficial for us. It wasn’t to be, we pushed hard in the last 20 minutes. We’re on the wrong side of another one, so it’s disappointing.”

Santos caressed Chelsea’s second into the bottom right corner just before the former Leicester and Norwich playmaker was due to replace Randall Kolo Muani, whose giveaway allowed Cole Palmer to start the move ending in the decisive goal.

Maddison said: “You want to get on the pitch at 1-0, especially as an attacking player. One moment can bring you back in the game.”

“Anyone who has worked in football or has been through this injury [will know] it’s not that easy to drop back in. Obviously it would be catastrophic for my career if we weren’t safe or didn’t follow the protocol from the specialists.

“I want to help the team as much as I can, so let’s see where we get to.”

The 29-year-old seemed deep in his own thoughts as he searched for the words while being quizzed on his minutes going into the final day, which he added are expected to remain the same as tonight, and Tottenham’s dire situation.

Tonight’s defeat also extended Tottenham’s awful record at Stamford Bridge, where they have won just once in 41 visits.

A testing season for Maddison and his teammates will end with the moment of truth on Sunday, when Spurs host Everton needing a point to survive, save for a freak result to overturn the Hammers’ vastly inferior goal difference, and avoid disaster.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers take on Leeds United and need nothing short of a victory to ensure a 15th consecutive year in the top flight, but their fate also rests in the hands of none other than their fierce rivals.