The Spurs boss insisted that the England international is one of the top midfielders in the country after he captained the side in the Carabao Cup
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino believes that Dele Alli is already one of the best players in European football, after a strong start to the 2018-19 campaign.
The opening two months of the season have been a mixed bag for Spurs, winning their first three games before embarking on a three-match losing streak in all competitions and finally getting back to winning ways in the past week.
A 2-1 win on the south coast against Brighton last Saturday saw Pochettino’s men get back on track in the Premier League, which was followed up by a gruelling penalty shootout victory against Watford in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Alli has featured prominently over the last eight weeks and was given the captain’s armband in the clash against Watford at Stadium MK, which saw the 22-year-old return to the club where he began his senior career.
The Tottenham boss was impressed by how the Englishman handled the extra responsibility, as he told reporters on Thursday: “Being a captain means a lot – it’s not just about wearing the armband.
“Dele spoke from the heart in his team-talk and I like that. I can’t tell you what he said but he was very good.
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“He was back in his home town, playing at his old stadium, it was fantastic for him and so I decided to make him captain. I think he did very well. He is more mature and has more experience. When you are young, you do some crazy things, but he has grown up.”
Pochettino went on to make a bold claim about Alli, suggesting that even at his tender age he is already among the best midfielders in the world, as he added: “He is one of the best in England and one of the best in Europe in his position. I hope the experience of being captain for the first time will help him to improve even more.”
Spurs return to Premier League action on Saturday against Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium, which is a crucial game for the North Londoners as they bid to chase down their rivals.
Alli looks set to retain his spot in the middle of the park and supporters will be expecting him to reproduce his best form to guide the team towards another important three points.
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