James Maddison has admitted that during a period in which Bruno Fernandes was performing exceptionally well for Manchester United, he "studied" the midfielder.
In January of 2020, Fernandes made the move to Manchester United after previously playing for Sporting Lisbon. Upon his arrival in Manchester, he made an immediate impact. He was a talismanic figure who was honored with the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for two campaigns in a row.
The midfielder contributed 40 goals and 25 assists over the course of his first season and a half with the club. During that time, Leicester's Maddison, who was selected for the England squad to compete in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, observed what the midfielder was doing well and tried to emulate it.
This season, Maddison has posted better statistics than Fernandes and the majority of his England teammates. On Wednesday afternoon, Maddison opened up about his form and admitted that, in his spare time, he analyzes the play of other players. He also stated that he has a better understanding of his own game than the majority of his teammates.
At the press conference, Maddison said, "A couple of seasons ago, when I wasn't in the England squad, Bruno Fernandes was playing very well for Manchester United and putting up ridiculous numbers in terms of goals and assists." Maddison was referring to the time when he wasn't a member of the England team.
Therefore, I most likely kept a closer eye on him during that period of time. How is he able to rack up so many points? What kind of runs does he go for that I don't? If you want to call me a student of the game, then you can call me that. I don't miss a single game. My family is obsessed with football.
"My girlfriend loses her mind because of how much television I watch. I watched each of the four games that were played each day while we were under lockdown. I can't say that there is a particular player who serves as an inspiration for my game at the moment; perhaps when I was younger.
"I have a lot of respect for every one of the Premier League's talented players. I make it a point to learn something from every player that I observe, regardless of whether they are at a higher level, the same level, or a lower level than I am. When I watch a game on television, I frequently focus on players who are in the same position as me.
"I'm a man of the gridiron. I'm sure you've heard me say that before. Because I genuinely enjoy playing the game. In my mind, I'm still that little boy who used to run around the backyard kicking a ball around while wearing face paint that said "England."
