James Maddison: Tottenham match winner reveals inspiration for pointed celebration against Man Utd | OneFootball

James Maddison has revealed his goal celebration during Sunday's desperately needed win over Manchester United was a shot back at the "outside noise" in the days prior.

Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou have been getting routinely slated for months, but Maddison came in for individual criticism last week. Roy Keane, a self-confessed boyhood Spurs fan who also served as Manchester United's captain, suggested on Stick to Football that the midfielder is on course to get relegated again if he doesn't step up.

"We saw Maddison at Tamworth [in the FA Cup]. He got taken off. Tamworth are non-league. People say 'Maddison's the man'. When's he going to step up to the plate? He got relegated at Leicester, he's going to get relegated at Spurs," Keane said.

So when Maddison found the net against Manchester United, a first half goal which proved to be the difference in north London, he made a shushing gesture with his finger to his lips.

Maddison scored the winner as Tottenham beat Man Utd / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

"There was a little bit of outside noise this week, wasn't there?" the England international explained afterwards when asked for the meaning behind the celebration. "People have their opinions but I wanted to do my talking on the pitch so I hope there's a certain few people who enjoyed me being the match winner today."

Maddison added: "No one's more critical of myself than me. The gaffer always talks about blocking out the outside noise, but that's sometimes difficult, it's constantly in your face.

"You can use it [for motivation] but the gaffer prefers it when we're in our own little bubble. Sometimes it's difficult because it's constantly in your face these days with social media and WhatsApp, people sending stuff. You do see it. It's about responding in the right way and I did that."