Having signed for Tottenham Hotspur as an exciting youngster, Dele Alli has blossomed into a fine player. Compared to idol Steven Gerrard when younger, Alli was seen as a major talent for clubs to try and get to. Indeed, he was heavily linked with boyhood team Liverpool, before eventually joining Spurs on a long-term deal. Since then, he has been a key cog in the Mauricio Pochettino side that fought for titles and reached a UEFA Champions League Final. Pochettino, though, is gone; replaced by Jose Mourinho.
And in the year-plus that Mourinho has been in charge at the North London side, Alli has seen his own star fall dramatically. He was seen as one of the most prodigious talents of his age, and has shone at European and domestic level numerous times. However, a drop-off in form and consistency pre-Mourinho has continued for a prolonged period since the Portuguese arrived. As such, a parting of the ways felt almost inevitable. Links existed to various clubs in England, Germany, and France; key among them were Paris Saint-Germain.
With Pochettino arriving in Paris to coach the club he played for, then, the link felt even more of a natural fat. However, after starting in the third round FA Cup win against Marine FC, Mourinho was full of praise for the young Englishman. When asked about his performance after the game, Mourinho was happy to shower on a player who has yet to really make it under his guidance.
‘I am really happy’
Mourinho was quick to talk about Alli after the game, praising a mature performance and suggesting it was a game to measure his desire as much as anything else. Saying that “of course it was not the match to measure the quality,” Mourinho continued on to talk about Alli, saying: “But the professionalism and attitude and I am very happy with it.
“I will not be surprised if next Wednesday Dele is playing with us. I am really happy with his attitude in the game. Of course we didn’t want to risk much, the pitch is a bit dangerous and their enthusiasm can put the creative ones in some risk.
“But I am happy – good professionalism, good dynamic from him and Gedson [Fernandes] to start trying to create, so really pleased for the performance.”
Having long been seen as someone who is ‘not a Mourinho player’, one only has to look at how the Portuguese once used Mesut Ozil. Though the German was never the most dynamic athletically, he played a role in a Mourinho team and was a key part of shifting defence into attack. Alli has the same vision and playmaking capacity, as well as a natural eye for goal. With Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane firing as a duo, Alli could easily work his way back into a part of that first team picture.
However, it will take more than a professional showing against Marine to overcome what had looked a terminal decline in fortunes under Mourinho.
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