Mauricio Pochettino assesses Dele Alli’s form, says Tottenham star just needs to breathe

Follow us on Google Discover

Pochettino has given Alli his full backing despite the England star’s underwhelming recent displays.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has said, as reported by the London Evening Standard, that Dele Alli just needs to stay calm to overcome his recent poor form.

Alli’s displays in recent weeks have been a shadow of what he has shown that he is capable of, and have been cited by some as a key factor in Spurs’ mini-slump.

The White Hart Lane side are now winless in six games in all competitions after this week’s home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, although they are the only team still unbeaten in the Premier League.

Alli has three goals and one assist to his name from 14 appearances at club level this term, but since the last of those strikes on 15 October he has endured a four-game spell during which he has looked off the pace.

Pochettino, though, has insisted that he is still “very happy” with what he is seeing from the 20-year-old in what is just his second season in the Premier League, although he did suggests that the young midfielder needs to “breathe a little bit” to get through spells such as this.

The Argentine boss said, via the Standard: “I am happy with him, but he is still very young and this is his only his second season in the Premier League.

“Many things happened last season and sometimes he needs to breathe a little bit. He can’t keep his level in every game. Sometimes players might have some problems, such as illness.

“They are sometimes not at their best because they are human but I am very happy with him. It is just that some periods are good and others not so good.”

Alli’s superb debut individual campaign at Spurs last term was a key factor in the club’s excellent season as the then-teenager racked up eight goals and nine assists in his maiden Premier League campaign.

If Spurs are to compete for honours once more on a domestic and European front this season, they need Alli to return to his full force sooner rather than later.