Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WELCOME BACK THE REAL DELE
Poch tips ‘special’ Alli to put tricky start to the campaign behind him and show his class..
MAURICIO POCHETTINO insists Dele Alli will prove he is among the best in the world. Alli will return from a three-game European ban to face Real Madrid at Wembley, and the Tottenham midfielder will be desperate to be the centre of attention on the Champions League stage for the right reasons.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Alli, who has suffered a major dip in form. He was given a one-match suspension for a one-fingered salute during England’s game with Slovakia, and then had his temperament questioned again last weekend after a flare-up with Manchester United’s Ashley Young at Old Trafford.
But Spurs boss Pochettino says he is not concerned about either the 21-year-old’s short fuse or loss of form.
He said: “I am not worried about him. It’s true he is disappointed with himself that he’s not at his best but it’s coming. Like the winter is coming.
“For me, he is a special player, but has the capability to improve and get better. He can improve but you need time.
“It’s been a short period in which he’s been playing in a professional environment and has already achieved a lot of things.
“But, with time – every day getting better and improving and not repeating his mistakes – then for sure he can become one of the best players in the world.
“For me, all of my players are top class. World class? Of course. He is still so young. Sometimes
we expect too much and the expectation levels on him are massive because he has shown already he is capable of doing something special.”
Alli has already put himself on Real Madrid’s radar after emerging as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfield talents. But he has also gained a reputation for playing and living on the edge.
His short fuse on the pitch has already got him in trouble but Pochettino claims he was not worried when he squared up to Young.
Pochettino said: “When someone tries to wind him up, it’s normal. But I think his behaviour was good and, when you are in the game, you want to win. It’s normal to argue with an opponent.
“But in the second half, he was relaxed, played football, was focused and was just trying to play.”
Spurs have, of course, managed without Alli as they have won their first two group games, and drew in the Bernabeu when the focus in Madrid was all about Harry Kane. While Kane insists he is a one-club man, you get the impression Alli dreams of moving to Madrid one day, and perhaps this is more of an audition for him.
It was heartbreaking for Alli to miss the Madrid game, but Pochettino still decided to take him to Spain, and allowed him to train in the Bernabeu the night before the game. Pochettino (below) said: “The good thing was that many players asked me about going to be with the team. It was not only my decision.
“It was my final decision to take him but many players who were injured said this – we want to stay with the team and it’s a good opportunity.
“That is so important. It’s something that starts to move in the group, in the club.
“To feel that you are part of the group and the project. That is the last step, that we need to be stronger mentally. It’s not about running more, doing more sessions, tactical things, playing in different ways.
“The last step for us, like a group, like a club, is mental. We must work very hard to try to change everything in the future.
“I think it’s normal for him to have a drop in form after two very successful seasons, or one-and-ahalf. It was a strange pre-season for him, a difficult pre-season for him, for different reasons. And then he was banned and then, of course, it can affect the motivation about preparing himself to compete.
“Always for the player that is not involved from the beginning in a very exciting competition, you feel a little bit down and sometimes, OK, you stay here in the training ground, alone, training. It’s not easy for everyone and, maybe, he was affected a little bit by that.
“But now, we are so happy in the way that he is doing. He is motivated now. His internal motivation is higher now to try to compete at his best level.
“We are very happy with his performances. I think he’s increasing his level.”
‘He has already achieved a lot of things in a short period as a pro’