Republic of Ireland’s draw with Wales was marred by the horror challenge, and the Tottenham Hotspur star has commented on the incident.
Republic of Ireland’s Seamus Coleman lies injured
Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli has insisted that he hopes that Everton’s Seamus Coleman enjoys a speedy recovery following his horrific leg break in Republic of Ireland’s clash with Wales last week, but also expressed some sympathy for Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor, the Daily Mirror reports.
Taylor’s challenge saw the Villa man pick up a red card, and saw Coleman suffer an injury that Everton initially feared could potentially end his career – though those fears have since been alleviated (via Mirror).
And Alli – who was highly criticised for a challenge on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere in a recent Europa League clash which saw him pick up a three-game ban – has defended Taylor by suggesting that the Welshman would have had no intention of causing such a horrific injury.
“I feel sorry for Coleman and I wish him a speedy recovery,” he said, as reported by the Mirror.
Wales’ Neil Taylor is sent off by referee Nicola Rizzoli
“You are going out there to do a job and he wouldn’t have meant to injure the player. When that happens it makes you feel horrible.
“I was relieved nothing bad happened to Dejaegere. I didn’t go in to hurt him, I went for the ball. But it can look a lot worse than the way it happened in your head.”
Tottenham’s Dele Alli looks dejected after being sent off
Mauricio Pochettino may be hoping that the Spurs star works on getting the balance right between playing hard and avoiding crossing the line and causing an opponent a serious injury.
Alli appears to have the potential to become the best player in the Premier League, but being unable to control how he uses that aggression could prove costly on future occasions, while getting that balance right could be the final piece in the jigsaw for the 20-year-old who is already shaping up to one of the most well-rounded players in the top flight.
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