Over the last season or so, Dele Alli has found himself on the fringes of the first team squad, despite having shown over the course of five seasons his ability consistently on the biggest stages.
The Spurs midfielder has scored braces against Chelsea on two different occasions, a brace against Real Madrid in the Champions League, as well as providing two assists in the Champions League Semi-Final comeback against Ajax away in Amsterdam two years ago.
https://twitter.com/BallTekkers/status/1390965188095062021?s=20
However, after a difficult six months at the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign at Spurs followed by being dropped from the first team almost altogether, he almost found himself suffering the same fate as outcast Danny Rose.
Paris Saint-Germain were heavily linked over January with the midfielder, but with no official bid sufficient enough to tempt Daniel Levy into selling or even letting Dele go on-loan, the former MK Dons man remained at the club and began his mission to regain his role as an important player in the squad.
Ryan Mason on Dele Alli: “He trained himself into the team last weekend. Whatever has happened in the past has to remain in the past with Dele.
As footballers and in life as well, you have to live in the moment and live in the here and now.#COYS #THFC pic.twitter.com/FACXtXFhNf
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) May 7, 2021
Since Mourinho’s departure, Dele has found himself back in the first team regularly, being relied upon by interim manager Ryan Mason to make an impact, and he has done exactly that despite still not having the same match sharpness as the likes of Harry Kane and co.
His role as a roaming attacking midfielder is to find pockets of space in-between the opposition’s defence and midfield has given Spurs better quality in the final third and has helped give us better quality chances, as he is so difficult to peak up due to his constant running.
When Spurs are under pressure though, he also operates deeper to provide the defence with an out-ball, and when pressed he has the technical ability to resist that and get the team up the pitch or at-least buy a free-kick or throw-in.
While his lack of match sharpness means he is still making silly mistakes, his movement has been a valuable asset to the team, and during last weekend’s loss to Leeds, he was still one of the best players on the pitch until his substitution midway through the second half.
Tottenham thought they had taken the lead but Harry Kane is ruled offside by the finest of margins 📏
Dele Alli so close to producing another lovely assist! pic.twitter.com/pnHuxbAxmD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2021
After assisting Heung-min Son brilliantly for his equaliser by threading a cute through-ball which evaded three Leeds defenders, he should have had another assist after sending Kane one-on-one with Illan Meslier, allowing the England captain to chip him – only for VAR to somehow rule Kane as offside despite it being almost impossible to determine even with the 3D lines.
A superb Dele Alli assist 👌
Tottenham's attacking midfielder feeds Son Heung-min through on goal, and the forward tucks the ball away 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P9hGNkDxWQ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 8, 2021
At just 25-years-old, Dele still has plenty of growth in him, and he will continue to evolve as a footballer, so this project of restoring the midfielder into the first team must continue, because he remains an important asset to the starting line-up, and if confidence is shown in him, he will soon repay that trust with confidence of his own, and we know how good he is when he is playing with that swagger.
What really gets to me, is just how many have been writing Dele off! Jose Mourinho strangled Dele’s career and completely destroyed his playing opportunities for no good reason. I don’t believe Deles’ Spurs career is close to being over and fully expect him to rise back fully now Mourinho is finally gone. Lets hope the next coach inpires the players to play positive attacking football and instill a notion to go out to win.