ALLI’S THE GREATEST
Super Dele back in England form
IF Jose Mourinho was still confused about whether it was Dele Alli or Dele Alli’s brother out on the pitch, the Spurs midfielder provided the perfect answer.
One brilliant goal, that took everyone back to 2018 when the world was at England star Alli’s feet, and two superb assists told Mourinho in no uncertain terms: ‘I am here’.
Mourinho had joked with Alli, straight after taking over as manager at Tottenham, asking him if he was talking to Dele or to his brother. “He told me he was Dele,” Mourinho said at the time. “OK, I said, play like Dele.”
Since then Alli has drifted to the sidelines under Mourinho, who accused him of “lazy” training. He has started just one Premier League game this season and his only two goals have come in the Europa League.
But then came the 10th-minute touch of brilliance against Wolfsberg.
Matt Doherty’s cross came to him in the box, he took a touch and followed it with a bicycle-kick that flew into the corner. Anything Olivier Giroud can do... Mourinho said: “I don’t need to talk about that goal. Everyone will watch it around the world. It was beautiful. But the assists and hard work for the team mean more to me.
“Dele played very well. To have him back at this level is amazing.”
Spurs defender Eric Dier added: “Everyone has a short memory. Maybe they’ve forgotten Dele’s quality. Maybe he has reminded people.”
Yes, Spurs were already 4-1 up from the first leg and it was easy for Mourinho to give Alli a run out.
But as a reminder of what he can do, especially for England coach Gareth Southgate, it was timely.
As was the moment four minutes after the break when Alli’s pinpoint cross found Carlos Vinicius, who headed home the second goal.
Then, just to wrap things up, it was Alli’s incisive pass that saw substitute Gareth Bale – another fringe man who needs to make his mark – ram in Tottenham’s third. Now all Alli has to do is do it again – and again.
The fourth goal came as sub Dane Scarlett robbed Gustav Henriksson, and Vinicius thumped home.
Aged just 16 years and 337 days, Scarlett was the first 16-year-old to assist a Europa League goal since Kylian Mbappe in 2015.
Mourinho said: “Dane is an incredible talent. I want him in the first team squad next season.”