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Graeme Souness discusses Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli after Bayern Munich defeat
that Dele Alli will not make the difference for Tottenham Hotspur going forward, despite the England midfielder’s excellent recent form under Jose Mourinho.
A string of injuries last season and throughout the summer saw 23-year-old Alli struggle at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino. It culminated in Alli being very heavily criticised by pundits and supporters.
Indeed, the likes of Gary Neville and Souness hammered the former MK Dons man after the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool. Since Mourinho has come to Spurs, though, Alli has starred for Spurs – scoring three and creating two in four league games.
Souness – who has been a harsh critic of Alli among others in the past – does not believe he is the solution to Tottenham’s woes this season, commenting on the midfielder even though the player was rested during the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.
“Woah, calm down,” , in response to a claim that Tottenham are a different team without Alli. “Dele Alli, for the best part of two years, has stood still. It is only since Mourinho has lit the fire under him, he’s shown a bit.
“Don’t be thinking he’s going to make the difference for them. If you can’t keep the ball, like tonight, then it is always going to be one-way traffic. Tonight was a miserable performances, though I am taking in the circumstances.”
TBR’s view – Can Alli be the difference at Spurs? Or is Souness right?
Alli has starred for Spurs and looked like his old self under Mourinho, also scoring against Olympiacos in a 4-2 Champions League win. During his early days at Tottenham, he was the difference for Spurs, alongside Harry Kane.
If Mourinho can push Alli to the form that saw him shine in his first couple of seasons with Tottenham, then he certainly can be the difference at Tottenham – and he is more than capable of returning to that standard. Souness is being harsh.
