LAMPS CAN RELIGHT MY FIRE
Dele on why he can’t wait to play & learn from midfield legend Frank
DELE ALLI is adamant he still has a genuine passion for football that can take him to the summit of the game.
And Everton’s latest signing believes Frank Lampard will bring the best out of him – and return him to a level he enjoyed under Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, one that saw him branded a future great.
Dele (driving into training at Everton, below) is convinced he suffered at Spurs after Pochettino left, and subsequent managers did not get the best out of him, insisting the current Paris Saint-Germain boss “gave him the platform” to show his talent.
Now he is confident he has a gaffer who understands him and knows how to harness his attacking abilities, with new Everton boss Lampard the Premier League’s top-scoring midfielder of all time.
Former England man Dele said: “I can learn so much from him. I will speak to him about that and the way he fought on the pitch and what he did to make the most of his talent.
“I am very ambitious and passionate, so feeling that from the manager drives you on to want to do well not only for him but the whole club.
“Especially as an attacking and creative player, you want to know you can express yourself and bring excitement to the game, with and without the ball.
“That’s what I want to do and the kind of player I am.”
In an emotional farewell letter to Spurs supporters, Dele said Pochettino’s “trust and guidance in the early part of my career gave me the confidence and platform to show what I can do”.
He lost his way under Jose Mourinho, and rarely played when Nuno Espirito Santo and then Antonio Conte came in, with all three employing fairly regimented tactics.
But Lampard has shown real faith in him by sanctioning a deal that could cost the Blues £40million, even though he has struggled for at least the past two seasons. Dele said: “As a player, the main thing is to feel wanted.
“The owner Mr Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright were the first people I spoke to. I felt very comfortable and confident and wanted by them.
“I am very passionate when I am playing. It brings the best out of me when I play with aggression and on the front foot.
“Having all this – amazing team-mates, a great manager and very passionate fans, it is a great platform to express yourself.”
He is cup-tied so must miss Saturday’s fourth-round clash with Brentford – Lampard’s first match in charge – but will make his debut at Newcastle on Tuesday in the Premier League. And Dele is also confident that Lampard’s style is much more like Pochettino and will serve him well.
He said: “Working with Frank and the amazing players here, it’s a very attacking way of playing football, that’s what I like to do – be on the front foot, win tackles, get in the box and score.”