Nuno challenges Alli to raise his game after Moura winner
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted Dele Alli needs to raise his game after Lucas Moura came off the bench to send Tottenham into the EFL Cup last eight.
The Brazilian, a first-half substitute for the injured Bryan Gil, broke the fourth-round stalemate at Turf Moor with his first goal of the season. He produced a powerful and well-directed downward header from Emerson Royal’s cross in the 68th minute to get Spurs back on the winning track after two defeats.
But Alli and Harry Winks were notable absentees from the squad, and the Tottenham manager did not offer either of them too much encouragement of an early return to the starting line-up after the game.
“Not just Dele, it was Harry also, they are our players, we continue to focus on getting the best out of each of our players,” Nuno said.
“Dele is one of the cases we have to try and improve.”
Asked if they could be back in the squad to face Manchester United at the weekend, he added: “We have a training session tomorrow and we will assess all the players, like we always do.
“They are our players, so anything is possible, this is my answer.”
It’s all a bit deja vu for Alli, who had similar problems convincing Nuno’s predecessor, Jose Mourinho, that he was worth a place in the team. But Nuno was more upbeat about his team’s disciplined performance after making six changes following the defeat at West Ham on Sunday. “It was a good performance,” he said.
“We played good, we were in control of the game and had most of the possession. It’s very tough as they are very good.
“Defensively we were spot on, and we really did a good job of controlling how they play. We were better in the second half in terms of mobility and dynamic.
“The end of match was about defending, sticking together and defending. We know that games require suffering and unity. We must congratulate the players today because they did a good job.”
In a low-key first half, when neither goalkeeper was tested, Harry Kane squandered the two best chances. In the third minute, the England captain dragged a left-foot shot well wide after Giovani Lo Celso’s pass had split the Burnley defence. And just before half-time, Kane sent a difficult acrobatic volley – again with his left foot – high over the bar after Moura had flicked on Lo Celso’s corner.
Steven Bergwijn produced an embarrassing air shot when he attempted to volley Emerson’s cross. And Pierre-emile Hojbjerg summed up a scrappy first half when he ran the ball out of play when Nathan Collins’s misplaced pass left him in a good position in Burnley’s penalty area. The Dane vented his frustration by kicking Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope’s water bottle and towel into the crowd.
The tempo increased after the break. Lo Celso tried to set up Kane but his pass was too heavy, while at the other end Erik Pieters’s deep cross was met by Connor Roberts, but his goalbound header hit teammate Jay Rodriguez.
But Spurs always looked the more likely winners. Pope saved well from Lo Celso before Moura made the breakthrough. Pope denied Moura a second goal with a fine save before Burnley produced a late aerial bombardment in a bid to snatch an equaliser. But Spurs held out for a deserved victory.
Burnley (4-4-2) Pope 8; Roberts 5, Collins 5, Mee 6, Pieters 6; Gudmundsson 6 (Lennon 75, 5), Cork 6, Brownhill 6, Mcneil 6 (Cornet 75, 5); Rodriguez 5 (Barnes 60, 5), Vydra 4 (Wood 60, 5). Subs Taylor, Westwood, Norris (g), Bardsley, Long. Booked Roberts.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1) Gollini 6; Emerson 7, Romero 6, Sanchez 7, Davies 6; Hojbjerg 6, Skipp 6 (Ndombele 66, 5); Lo Celso 7 (Rodon, 89), Bergwijn 5 (Son 75, 5), Gil 4 (Moura, 25, 8); Kane 7. Subs Doherty, Reguilon, Tanganga, Austin (g). Booked Son.
Referee Peter Bankes (Lancashire).