COME ON DELE... SHOW ME I SHOULD PICK YOU, SAYS JOSE
DELE ALLI arrived in North Macedonia with a gentle warning from Jose Mourinho that the onus is on the player to force his way into the team and not on the manager to hand out favours. Alli has not appeared for Tottenham since he was hooked at half-time in the opening game of the season against Everton. And Gareth Bale’s return on loan from Real Madrid is set to increase the competition for places. Mourinho said: ‘There is a tendency now, that when a player performs or doesn’t perform, to give responsibility to the coaches, some because they gave him the right love, some because they gave him the right stick. ‘I always feel that 99 per cent of the responsibility is the player. I have one per cent. Me and my staff and the people that work with the players every day, we have one per cent of the responsibility.’ Alli, not even on the bench for Tottenham’s last two games, was set to start against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday but the game was called off when the League Two side were hit by positive Covid tests. Mourinho will not merely transpose the team he picked to face Orient into tonight’s Europa League third qualifying round tie against Shkendija. The team in Skopje is expected to be stronger. Alli will be involved, however, and Mourinho insists he does not see him leaving before the transfer deadline in 11 days. ‘Since Dele arrived from MK Dons he’s had ups and downs,’ he said. ‘Fabulous periods and also other periods when he disappears from the top level. When this lack of consistency happens in a player it is normal that when you are in great form you play because you deserve to and when you are not in a good moment you don’t play. ‘He is selected. No decision yet about starting or on the bench, but if he is on the pitch for one minute or 90 he has to show us. Pure and simple.’
Shkendija v Spurs, 7pm, LIVE on Premier Sports 1.