Tottenham ace Dele Alli hits back at critics with Chelsea double in race for top four

DELE ALLI grabbed the two goals that ended twenty eight years of pain for Tottenham and crushed Chelsea and insisted: “I have got nothing to prove.”
The Spurs and England forward has had an erratic season, losing his place in Gareth Southgate’s England side and scoring only six goals before yesterdays clash at Stamford Bridge, but his two strikes in four second half minutes earned his side their first win at Chelsea since February 1990.

Tottenham recovered after Alvaro Morata had given Chelsea the lead, Christian Eriksen levelling on the stroke of half time. But Alli’s double has now almost certainly condemned the Stamford Bridge side to Europa League football next season.

Alli said: “I don’t think I had a point to prove. I just had to get in the team and help them and thankfully I did that with two goals.

“I’m not sure if I have answered my critics. People will still be disappointed with the way I played. For me it was just about helping the team as much as I can. I try not to let it affect me.“

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “It was a fantastic victory for us. We are in a good place to achieve the top four.
“I’m very pleased for Dele. It’s been a tough period for him, but I like his talent, his character. He deserved it. He’s a great talent, only 21 years old, and sometimes we lose the focus on that. Sometimes the expectation is too much.



“He needs to show us nothing, because we trust and believe in him.“

“Dele is not one to be affected if he plays or does not play. He’s so strong. He’s a fighter, very competitive. But we need to help him.

“If he doesn’t play with the national team, he needs to compete and give his best to try and win again the confidence of his manager. The only way to do that is doing what he did today: scoring the goals and playing like he did.“

An under pressure Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, whose now only have the FA Cup to aim for, insisted: “I’m not worried about my position.”

That pressure showed as he furiously booted a water bottle on the touchline after Alli’s second goal hit the net.

Conte added: “I’m giving and the players are giving everything. We are working very hard. But in the end, we deserve this season. This is our value. If we are in this position, we deserve to be in this position.”

“I know I work 24 hours for Chelsea. Then the club has to take the decision. But I’m not worried. I have got the maximum out of these players.”

Source:www.express.co.uk