What happened: James Maddison told Sky that without De Zerbi's arrival, there was "a serious possibility we would have went down." He said the manager "switched the mindset" and that the passion De Zerbi showed daily rubbed off on the players, visible in their recent performances.

Why it matters: The comments frame De Zerbi as the decisive factor in steering the club clear of the drop zone late in the campaign. They reinforce a narrative of a turnaround built on mentality and culture rather than personnel, and signal player buy-in that strengthens the manager's standing heading into next season.

What to watch: Watch whether De Zerbi's backing translates into transfer-window leverage and squad retention, and how the mindset shift carries into the 2026 campaign.