Tottenham defender said that red carded midfielder made heartfelt apology to his team.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli in action with Gent’s Anderson Esiti
Tottenham Hotspur exited the Europa League last night after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Gent.
Spurs failed to beat the Belgian side in either leg, and have now been knocked out of two European competitions in the space of three months.
They were not helped by Dele Alli’s 38th minute red card, with the midfielder sent off for a terrible tackle which left Spurs facing an uphill battle.
Speaking to the Belgian press after the game, defender Toby Alderweireld told how Alli was apologetic in the dressing room after the game speaking to his teammates.
He told Nieuwsblad: “The red card, Dele did not mean it, but it is what it is.
“Two seconds before he commits that mistake, there’s a foul on him, to which he responds.
“Well, he is.. young. He has apologised in front of the group.”
It was the first red card of Dele Alli’s career, but not the first time he has shown his tempestuousness.
Tottenham dominated the second half but could not kill the game off and were then hit with a sucker punch on the counter.
Having Alli on the pitch could have helped, but Alderweireld’s comments indicate the Spurs squad are not blaming the 20-year-old for his moment of madness.
Gent’s Thomas Matton in action with Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld
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