Rocking Blues
Lampard hails Spurs star as the No. 10 England have been waiting for
Chelsea booked their place in the English FA Cup final with a thrilling 4-2 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. Willian put Chelsea ahead early in the semi-final before Harry Kane’s equaliser and the Brazilian netted again with a penalty, only to see Dele Alli draw Tottenham level. Eden Hazard came off the bench to restore Chelsea’s lead and Nemanja Matic’s thunderous strike ensured the English Premier League leaders will face Arsenal or Manchester City in the final next month.
LONDON: Former Chelsea favourite Frank Lampard believes Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli is the top class “number 10” that English football has been waiting for years to see.
Lampard has no doubt that one of the keys to beating Tottenham for any team will be stopping the effectiveness of the in-form Alli.
“He has developed into a number 10, playing behind the main striker, rather than being a
Alli is a highly intelligent player – the kind of number 10 we have been craving in England for years, and bemoaning the fact we have not got one. Now he has really arrived. Frank Lampard
number eight and a more traditional midfielder who likes getting forward,” Lampard told the BBC.
“He is so clever with his movement and clinical with his finishing, so he had to be given that free rein.
“Alli is a highly intelligent player – the kind of number 10 we have been craving in England for years, and bemoaning the fact we have not got one. Now he has really arrived,” said Lampard.
Alli has scored 16 goals in the Premier League this season and has struck up a great understanding with forward Harry Kane, who has 20 league goals so far.
Lampard, himself an attacking midfielder who struck 147 goals in 429 appearances for Chelsea, says that Alli’s movement is the key to his effectiveness and something he learned to develop.
“I’ve been watching Alli closely this season and he clearly has great technical ability – you can see that from his touch and from his finishing.
“The magic for me, though, is his movement to get into the box without being marked. If you watch him during games, he is always very aware of what is around him – his head is always moving and he is waiting for the right time to make his run.” — Reuters