Dele Alli had a difficult start but will bounce back - Mauricio Pochettino - 7M sport

Dele Alli had a difficult start but will bounce back - Mauricio Pochettino

MAURICIO POCHETTINO insists Dele Alli will warm the hearts of Tottenham fans as temperatures starts to drop.


Posted Wednesday, November 01, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Dele Alli had a difficult start but will bounce back - Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham star Dele Alli is a very promising talent

The Spurs boss admitted England star Alli had endured a troubled start to the season and had doubts about his game.

The 21-year-old missed his team's first three Champions League matches - including their impressive 1-1 draw at Real Madrid - following a ban for a horror challenge against Gent last season.

But just as the clocks have gone back, Pochettino predicted giant leaps forward for the hot-headed youngster, who finally gets his chance against the Galacticos at Wembley tonight.

"It's true he's disappointed with himself, that he's not at his best, but it's coming - like the winter is coming," said Pochettino.

Alli has rarely been far from controversy over the last three seasons, picking up a three-game ban for punching West Brom's Claudio Yacob as Spurs blew their chance of the 2015-16 title.

This season he also landed a one-match ban from FIFA for sticking his middle finger up, during England's game against Slovakia.

On Saturday, he clashed with Manchester United's Ashley Young in his team's 1-0 defeat, with claims he told the former England international, 32, to "retire with a zimmer frame".

Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos and his highly-experienced team-mates will be well aware of how Alli can fly off the handle.

Pochettino revealed Alli - who he took to Madrid a fortnight ago even though he could not play - had not been in the best frame of mind this season.

"It was a strange pre-season for him, difficult pre-season for him for different reasons," he said.

"He was banned and then, of course, it can affect the motivation about preparing himself to compete.

"Always for the player that's not involved from the beginning in a very exciting competition, you feel a little bit down and sometimes you stay here in the training ground, alone, training.

"It's not easy for everyone and, maybe, he was affected a little bit by that.

"Now, we are so happy in the way that he is doing. He is motivated now. I am not worried about him.

"But I think he needs to enjoy playing football. There's some times playing football when - he's a character and a winner - he will show his character and personality on the pitch like he did against Manchester United. But that's football.

"First of all, I think he is calm. I was relaxed at half-time after what happened on the pitch at Old Trafford. He is relaxed.

"Of course he is a winner and always wants to win. When someone tries to wind him up, it's normal [to react].

"But I think his behaviour was good and when you're in the game, you want to win, it's normal to argue with an opponent.

"In the second half, he was relaxed, played football, was focused and was just trying to play.

"He is so young, still so young - 21. Sometimes we expect too much and the expectation levels on him are massive because he's shown already he is capable to create and do something special.

"For me, he is a special player, but has the capability to improve and get better. He can improve but you need time and every day getting better and improving, then of course being successful, not to repeat his mistakes.

"Then, for sure, he can become one of the best players in the world."



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