One of the early storylines in Tottenham Hotspur’s 2021-22 season is the resurgence of Dele Alli. The 25-year-old has looked like his former self over this handful of fixtures under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo.
Alli recently spoke to Rio Ferdinand for BT Sport (via Express), where the midfielder discussed the reason for his struggles last season. Alli revealed that his fitness and production levels dropped under former manager Jose Mourinho.
“I didn’t feel I was where I should be. I’ve always prided myself on my fitness levels, long-distance, and being able to maintain stamina for a long time,” Alli said.
“I knew It’s something I needed to improve on coming off the end of last season; I wanted to make sure coming into the new season I was fit and ready to go.”
The midfielder then added that the Tottenham squad wasn’t performing at its top-level under Mourinho, resulting in a poor run of form leading to the Portuguese tactician’s sacking last season.
“I wanted to prove to myself, and I know my performance levels have been below par, and that’s not good enough,” Alli said.
“When a new manager comes in, it’s exciting, but obviously it’s off the back of a bad run of form or the team not doing so well, so it gives the team a boost.”
Alli ended the interview by stating what’s different under Nuno as opposed to Mourinho. The midfielder added that they’re looking to impose the style they want to play with their new manager rather than focusing on what the opposition will play.
“It’s been about us, what we’re going to do and how we are going to set up rather than worrying about the opposition,” Alli said. “With Mourinho, there was a lot of meetings analyzing the opposition.”
“The formation we are playing at the moment allows me to be more free as a box-to-box.”
Tottenham and Alli didn’t look good this weekend against Crystal Palace and will look to bounce back against Chelsea FC next week.
“resurgence” lol
We all know that THFC is a Parody of a Football Club and that this Fellow is a Parody of a Football Player. He just hasnt got the Right Stuff.
Finn below nails it.Dele along with a number of others in the squad have been held onto for far too long.Despite the assurances they are not getting any better,but Levy can’t see that their value is decreasing week by week.
It’s like the missed trick with Kane.If yesterday is any indication,he will be starved of service and will become more isolated up front.
I see a steady downward trend in our league position,so who would be persuaded to join us in January when we are in the bottom half?
on view Kane is sulking for not getting hes move to City if he is not going to try anymore just get him out of this club he is turning into a a large wast of space
You still ain’t lad.
I must say that I for one, am fed up with Dele Alli and all his protestations and what he does and doesn’t do.
I have worked with people like him; always acknowledging and knowing they are “off the pace” but are already working towards getting back to their best, with a proper plan, an improved training regime and a new attitude to get to their best……. but experience has taught me its all bollox, just a deflection to hide behind and a distraction to put off the uncomfortable questions till later…….. like a junkie or a drunk turning over their latest new leaf.
Alli has certainly chased around a bit more this season, but what has he achieved? Not much.
Rather than put his creativity and guile to good use, he wants to cheat, leave a foot in, try to make himself look good by making his opponent look foolish or just push and shove an opponent on the blind side, as oft as not resulting in giving away cheap unnecessary free kicks. He’s that kid at school who never stepped up to be responsible, but tried to get by through trickery, or as I like to call it, lies and deceits.
Whilst he’ll bust a gut to try to steal an unfair advantage, what he won’t do is step up. He will not win a 50/50 ball – that would be too honest, he will not fully commit to a challenge in the air: he still wants to do the flicks and nutmegs, looking to try to make the opponent look silly rather than stand firm and shield and/or pass the ball.
The penalty he “won”? Look I’m not niaive enough not to shrug and take the points but they were smelly – we didn’t win the penalty, Dele cheated. When other players in other teams do it what do we really think of them……can we seriously apply such hypocritical double standards and not think of him in the same way?
So here we are again, Dele’s telling us that he’s dealing with it as he knows he’s not been at his best, probably a result of Jose’s style last season……. didn’t he say this same old crap then and that he was going to apply himself under Jose? Is this not him now trying to deceive US, play a trick on US, deflect OUR ability to make honest assessments of his contribution?
The guy’s a serial waster; the ability he had went west with his finger tricks, his clothing line, his self-absorption, his girlfriend, gangster wanna-be mates and most importantly his youth – now he’s just one step ahead of being washed up and is trying to stay near the trough.
We should have offloaded this guy three years ago, but Levy as always can’t differentiate between some pie in the sky 2018 valuation and what he’s worth now, which in my book would barely get you a round and few bags of scratchings……..
Haha…..that blond haired kid totally outshone you Del Boy. You are just a nothing midfielder.