James Maddison admits he’s endured ‘the hardest time of my career’ at Leicester
James Maddison has admitted his confidence deserted him during a lean spell he believes was the toughest of his career.
The Leicester midfielder broke an eight-month goal drought – during which he also suffered a hip injury – with the winner in his team’s 2-1 victory at Brentford on Sunday, the Foxes’ third win in nine days.
Maddison is likely to be rested for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton but he should return against Arsenal on Saturday as Leicester look for a third-straight league win.
James Maddison says he has ‘swagger back’ after enduring the ‘toughest time of my career’
Maddison tapped home Leicester’s winner at Brentford to secure a 2-1 Premier League victory
‘It has probably been the hardest time of my career,’ he said. ‘People on the outside don’t know my life and I am my own biggest critic.
‘If I’ve had a bad game I watch it back straightaway. I’m very critical of myself.
‘Goals and assists are a part of it but it’s about playing well, to the level I know I can.
‘I had a good chat with the manager and I told him I was a little bit low on confidence. That’s the first time I’ve been able to hold my hands up and say that because it puts you in a bit of a vulnerable position.
‘But that was me being honest. We looked at my best clips and what makes me a good player.
‘In recent games I’ve felt more like myself, like I had my swagger back. Sometimes you can overthink things.’
Beforehand, Maddison says he was ‘low on confidence’ after an eight-month goal drought
The 24-year-old was dropped by Brendan Rodgers after a 2-1 defeat at Brighton and the Leicester boss urged him to do better.
Maddison looked more like himself when he came on as substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Legia Warsaw and things have progressed from there.
He told LCFC TV: ‘The manager challenged me to go and improve and get back to the level I know I can, to be one of the best in the Premier League.
‘Sometimes when you’re not playing well, you can try too hard but I’ve felt really good in the last two games. I was happy to play threes games in a week and get a goal and an assist as well.’
Maddison has revealed that Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers challenged him to return to form
