It’s fine to dive like Dele: Pochettino

TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino has waded into the Dele Alli diving debate, saying the game is about gaining small advantages and tricking your opponent.

Alli has been shown three yellow cards for diving since his Premier League debut in 2015, the latest in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool this week.

No player has more in that time.

But Pochettino described diving as a “minimal issue”, saying players will do all they can to win a game.

The Argentine feels football is being overly sensitive and is in danger of scrutinising itself to death.

“Twenty years ago, 30 years received ago, it was like ‘all congratulate the player when he tricks the referee’ – in Argentina but in England, too,” he said.

“That is the football that I was in love with when I was a child.

“Football is about trying to trick your opponent: yes or no?

“The problem now is that we are so sensitive.

“Of course, he (Alli) is not perfect. Nobody is perfect.

“Of course, he is a clever boy, he is a little bit nasty.

“Football is a creative sport, in which you need the talent that grows in a very intelligent person, a very smart brain.

“And now we are so focused on minimal details.”

Pochettino was speaking ahead of this morning’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Newport County at Wembley.

England midfielder Alli was denied a penalty against Manchester United after a challenge by Antonio Valencia last week and his reputation may be starting to work against him.