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Dele is Spurs’ cold-eyed assassin who specialises in shooting down giants.. now Inter are in his sights
vChampions League Group B: Kick-off 8pm COMMITTED, courageous and with the cutting edge to make his mark in the biggest games.
Dele Alli has proven himself to be the man who delivers when the heat is on for Tottenham.
Goals against the Premier League’s big six, Real Madrid and for England in the World Cup quarter-finals all explain why, at 22, Alli is one of the most-coveted, rising stars in European football.
With his new, six-year Spurs deal barely a month old, Chelsea were glad to see the back of him after his sixth goal in five games against them last weekend.
Mauricio Pochettino is hoping Inter Milan feel the same way after Tottenham’s must-win Champions League showdown at Wembley tonight.
“Dele loves a challenge,” said the Spurs boss. “He is a winner. His mentality is such that he gets bored quickly when he doesn’t feel pressure.
“We laugh that he’s alone in front of the goal, he gets bored. But when he’s under pressure, he’s unbelievable. He loves this kind of game and loves to compete in a difficult situation.”
Spurs are certainly in a tight spot. Anything other than a victory tonight and they will be heading down into the Europa League next Spring.
But three points on the back of their pulsating, last-gasp win over PSV earlier this month will take Group C to the wire.
Inter – 2-1 winners over Spurs back in September – warmed up for this encounter with a 3-0 Serie A victory over Frosinone last Saturday.
However, when the doubters write off Pochettino and his side, it fires him up even more.
He said: “When the people say something is going to be difficult, for me, it’s like, ‘Ah, I’m so excited to show them it’s completely different – that possible to do’.
“For me, it’s a massive motivation. For us, it’s a massive motivation.”
Victory over Chelsea may have been decisive four days ago, but, with Arsenal to come on Sunday, there will be no resting on Tottenham’s laurels at Wembley tonight.
Pochettino believes his men have already got the message.
Inter away was one of three consecutive games in which they were beaten after title talk had followed their stunning 3-0 win at Manchester United three months ago.
“I was so pleased after the Chelsea game,” added Pochettino.
“A very good victory, but the most important thing is to remain humble.
“I was disappointed after the victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“Remember that there were a lot of players talking about winning titles – and it was only at the beginning of the season.
“It was only three points, like it’s any other game. I am pleased because I think we have learned.
“To stay humble is the most important thing.
“Now we need to show, in this game, that we are in a very good way and we should use the example of the performance that we made against Chelsea.
“The most important thing is to talk on the pitch and to show our attitude.
“Talk outside of the pitch? Of course, but always be humble because, if not, you start to think in a different way.
“You believe that you are so good and then you don’t need to make so much effort on the pitch.
“If you are not in the right attitude, maybe you can win some games, but trophies? Impossible.
“Ten months competing, it’s impossible to keep the same level. There is still a lot of work to do.”
He loves a challenge. His mentality is such that he gets bored quickly when he doesn’t feel pressure