Tottenham Hotspur Manager Jose Mourinho looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho has played down fears over an injury to Dele Alli ahead of facing Norwich City.
Spurs needed to comeback from a poor first half performance to win against Brighton and Hove Albion on Boxing Day with the England international scoring the winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He could be an important player against away at Carrow Road in his team’s final game of 2019 due to the suspensions of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko.
Both players reached their respective limits for yellow cards in the win over Brighton and will miss out on playing against Norwich as a result.
Given the uncertainty over how Mourinho will set up his side in midfield, the tenacity that Dele can provide would not go amiss.
Speaking in his post-match press conference on Boxing Day, the Portuguese addressed concerns over the attacking midfielder. “I didn’t speak to him,” he said. “I don’t know.
“It was the same the other day with Moussa [Sissoko], cramp, fatigue. I want to believe that, but at the same time Dele is a guy that last couple of seasons had some hamstring problems, so I don’t know. I hope that it’s nothing.”
Mourinho also commented on Dele’s form since his arrival as head coach in November.
During that time the 23-year-old has scored five and set up a further three goals through assists in eight appearances.
“People now say since I arrived that Dele has scored three or four goals in the Premier League and one or two goals in the Champions League but I don’t go in that direction,” he said.
“I go in the direction that Dele Alli exhausted from work. I love players who are exhausted from that.”
The midfielder also had his say over his form under Mourinho after the win over Brighton.
“I don’t know,” he said to Amazon Prime. “For me, I’ve just got to focus on each game and where I am.
“I’m at a period in my game where I’m still 23 and I’ve got to keep working hard.
“I just want to give my best and keep improving. We had a great five years under [Mauricio] Pochettino and he helped me develop into the player I am now, so I’ve just to keep heading in the right direction and make sure I don’t start going backwards.”
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