Jamie Carragher has slammed Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli looks dejected after being sent off
Pundit Jamie Carragher has told the Daily Mail that Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli cost his team the game and the tie against Gent on Thursday evening.
After losing the first leg of their Europa League last 32 clash with Gent 1-0 in Belgium, Tottenham needed a big reaction – and having beaten Fulham 3-0 in the FA Cup last Sunday, spirits were high again as Gent arrived at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.
Christian Eriksen’s early goal appeared to have set Tottenham on their way as he levelled the tie, but Harry Kane’s own goal levelled the tie on the night, put Gent up on aggregate and also handed the Belgians an away goal.
A major talking point arrived in the first half when Dele Alli was given a straight red card for a terrible lunge on Brecht Dejaegere, and whilst Victor Wanyama put the ten men in front on the night, Jeremy Perbet made it 2-2 and sent Gent through to the last 16 with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Whilst Tottenham’s first leg performance left them with work to do, the finger of blame has been pointed at midfielder Alli, who left his side playing with just ten men for over half of Thursday’s game.
The 20-year-old midfielder has earned plenty of plaudits having hit 21 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League since arriving from MK Dons in 2015, but his disciplinary record has seen the youngster criticised.
Alli racked up seven bookings in the Premier League last season as well as four this term, whilst he was suspended for the final three games of last term having been caught punching West Brom’s Claudio Yacob in the stomach.
Jamie Carragher
Some believe that taking aggression out of Alli’s game wouldn’t make him the player he is, but pundit Jamie Carragher has now told the Daily Mail that he completely disagrees, claiming that Alli can still be a goalscoring midfielder without being so rash.
Carragher added that Alli’s challenge on Dejaegere was ‘appalling’, and he ultimately let down his manager and cost his team the game as they were dumped out of the Europa League.
“It was expected that Mauricio Pochettino would come out and defend Alli after his red card against Gent but privately the manager must realise what happened,” said Carragher. “Alli’s foul on Gent midfielder Brecht Dejaegere was appalling and could have easily broken his right leg. More than anything, though, it was his reaction and the way the red mist descended.”
“It is sometimes said that Alli would not be the same if he loses the aggression from his game but that, frankly, is nonsense. He can still be a gifted, goalscoring midfielder without trying to chop an opponent in half. If Alli had stayed on the pitch at Wembley, Tottenham win that game and reach the last 16. He let down himself, his manager and his team when they needed him,” he added.
What do you think about Alli’s temperament?
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