James Maddison aims hilarious dig at Roy Keane in the CBS studio after Tottenham’s Europa League triumph following his criticism earlier in the season – but Man United legend gets the final laugh

James Maddison was quick to take a playful swipe at Roy Keane in the wake of Tottenham’s Europa League final win on Wednesday, after their feud earlier on in the season. 

Maddison was one of a number of injured Spurs stars ruled out of contention in Bilbao, but he was at the San Mames all the same to cheer his side onto victory from the stands. 

Brennan Johnson scored the only goal of the game in suitably scruffy fashion for a match that fell well short of its billing. 

But it did not matter the quality of the performance for Spurs fans who finally after 17 years saw their side lift a trophy. 

Maddison is one of his side’s most important players with his creativity in the final third, but he had faced criticism earlier on in the season from Keane, who suggested he was lacking in consistency, before Maddison responded by scoring against United.

Now, months later, the England international took the opportunity to aim a tongue-in-cheek jab in the direction of Keane, before pulling out his trademark darts celebration to dig the boot in further.  

‘I wasn’t gonna do any interviews but I heard Roy Keane was in the studio tonight,’ the Spurs star quipped after the game. 

He then faced calls from Micah Richard to throw the imaginary darts, to which he agreed with gusto, adding: ‘Oh I will, Micah, with pleasure!’ 

But Keane had the last laugh. ‘I always said he was a good player but he needs to be more consistent,’ he began. ‘And he played well tonight!’

Maddison has 12 goals this term for Spurs in a season that has been frequently disrupted by injuries, much like many of his team-mates. 

However next season he will have the opportunity to feature in the Champions League, where he will hoping to continue to prove Keane wrong on a regular basis. 

Despite not featuring on Wednesday night, though, Maddison was still seen celebrating the historic occasion in his full kit. 

‘They said I had to put the kit on to get a medal!’ Maddison explained. ‘I didn’t want to do a John Terry!

‘What a special feeling. Winning makes [the season] all alright – the pain of not being able to play is not being able to help the team.

‘It is a brilliant achievement and a way to qualify for the Champions League but it is more winning for the fans. They have had years of pain.

And when asked how best to celebrate the occasion, he added: ‘Plenty of beer.’ 

Tottenham will close the season with a clash against Brighton, bringing an end to a season that has brought no small amount of pain to the fanbase, but has at least finished on a positive note. 

For United, meanwhile, it has underlined just how much work is needed in the off-season if they are to come back stronger in September. 

‘I have nothing to show to the fans, so in this moment it is a little bit of faith [that is required],’ said United boss Ruben Amorim after the game. 

‘Let’s see [on the future]. Like I said before, I am always open.

‘If the board and fans feel that I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation, but I will not quit.

‘I am really confident on my job and as you see I will not change nothing in the way I do things.’