Alli incurs Poch’s wrath over dive
MAURICIO POCHETTINO criticised Dele Alli for a diving incident which he said was unhelpful to the team, in a win which revealed the best and worst of him.
Alli was clearly guilty of simulation in the game’s closing stages, as he attempted to round Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lossl. ‘I didn’t see,’ Pochettino said. ‘It’s so difficult for me from my position. But if it was like this he needs to learn. He must learn. This type of action doesn’t help him, doesn’t help the team and doesn’t help football. We are talking in the last few years about fair play, about being honest. I think he is improving a lot and learning.’
Pochettino wants Alli to stay with Tottenham this week, rather than join the England squad for Thursday’s qualifier at home to Slovenia — for which he must serve a one-match suspension after raising his middle finger during the nation’s previous match against Slovakia. Alli hit the post and was involved in the build-up to Spurs’ second goal but squandered possession at times during a game which his team dominated.