Dele Alli Is A Special Player – Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino hailed “fantastic” duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli after Tottenham revived their challenge for Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win at Burnley.

“Harry is so important. I have praised him over the three-and-a-half years I have been here,” Pochettino said.

“He makes a contribution not only with goals but with his attitude and his professionalism. How he works on the pitch is fantastic. He’s a massive example for everyone.

“I’m so happy for him, because not only have we achieved the three points, but he equalled Alan Shearer’s record.

“He needs one more to set a new record, and I think that’s a massive, massive achievement for an individual like him.”

Pochettino, though, said that referee Michael Oliver was correct both in only booking Alli and in awarding the early penalty.

“I think it was a yellow. I don’t think it was more than yellow. The penalty was a penalty,” he said.

“I’m happy with his performance and contribution. He tried always. He was always in the game, trying to help the team. His contribution was fantastic.”

The Tottenham manager is not worried that Alli’s reputation for getting into trouble on the pitch precedes him, and is certain he will rediscover his scoring touch.

“It’s coming,” Pochettino said. “We always expect from Dele Alli that not only does he work, but he scores too. But we feel that’s coming.

“He’s going to score and perform in the way that he did before.

“He’s a special player. He is like he is. When everyone in this country praised him in the past two seasons, I think it was easy.

“He’s still young, he’s 21. Because he’s so special in his character and the way he plays sometimes the crowd is focused on him.

“Of course, we demand more. We are the first to demand more from him. But I think he’s in a good way. You can feel that Dele is recovering again all of the feelings from the past.”