TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino says leaving out Dele Alli is as unthinkable as dropping Harry Kane.
England star Dele has struggled for form all season, not scored in nine games and was lucky not to be sent off in last weekend’s 4-1 drubbing at Manchester City.
Yet Poch has stuck with Dele in every starting line-up when he has been available — all bar this month’s 2-0 win over Brighton when he was on the bench after missing training through illness.
Dele has not scored since the Champions League win over Real Madrid back on November 1.
And many Spurs fans reckon it is time he was axed to teach him that he is not indispensible. But Poch is having none of that.
Dele may be rotated during the hectic festive period — which kicks off for Spurs at Burnley tonight. But when it comes to big games, he plays.
Pochettino said: “Against Real Madrid at Wembley he scored twice and nearly scored a hat-trick. Against Liverpool I think it was his best game.
“Dele Alli is a massive talent and player. It’s the same if you ask me why Harry Kane always plays. There is no doubt about that. For Tottenham, Dele Alli is as important.”
Dele, 21, is having to cope with criticism over a loss of form for the first time since his Tottenham debut — as a raw teenager just joined from MK Dons — against Manchester United at Old Trafford in August 2015.
He was playing for England at Euro 2016 by the end of that season and last term finished with 23 goals for club and country — bringing inevitable comparisons with Frank Lampard. This season he has scored just seven from 25 games at a time when he has been swapping agents and living a bling lifestyle that has not gone unnoticed by the supporters.
Criticism from SunSport columnist Alan Shearer is said to have stung him, and opposition players are now quick to wind him up on the pitch in the knowledge he has a short fuse.
Johnny Giles, who played in the Leeds team of the 1970s that combined talent with some downright dirty play, reckons Pochettino has failed in his duty to discipline Dele, who is gaining a reputation as a hothead.
After the Spurs man’s stamp on Kevin de Bruyne at the Etihad last week, Giles said: “Pochettino should be laying down the law.
“But he blew his credibility when he supported the lad in similar circumstances on a number of occasions in the last few seasons.” Pochettino insists the Irishman has got it all wrong. The Argentinian said: “I am happy with him. We need to understand he is only 21.
“It’s not to be selfish and say we need to do everything for him and not care about what happens to the team.
“We are going to take the best decision for him, not only to help him but to help the team, too. It’s about balance.”
Tottenham go into tonight’s Turf Moor clash a point behind the hosts, who continue to defy the odds under Sean Dyche. And Poch reckons the Clarets can dream of a Champions League debut next term.
He said: “Two years ago, people were asking whether Leicester could win the Premier League and, in the end, they did.
“They are doing so well. It will be tough because they are com- peting with big sides and so are we. But in football, anything can happen. “They are so tough, such a physical team. They play simple but it’s difficult sometimes to play simple as well as they do.
“We need to be ready to fight because they are such athletic players, tough players and they manage the long ball so well, with two or three strikers that are so big, and the second ball.
“It doesn’t surprise me that they are doing so well because they have good quality.”
Defender Davinson Sanchez is available for Spurs tonight after finishing a three-match ban.
And Poch hopes injured pair Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama will also be back soon after Christmas.
Pochettino added: “When you lose, it is human nature to miss who wasn’t on the pitch.
“We need to keep going and belief is so important, to change the dynamic, win games and be close to the top four. It is a long way until the end of the season.”
From The Sun
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