‘Sloppy play is not going to get him back in the team’: Glenn Hoddle admits it is getting difficult for Dele Alli after he was hauled off at half-time of Tottenham’s defeat at Antwerp, as Owen Hargreaves claims he is being ‘watched like a hawk by Mourinho’
- Out-of-favour midfielder Alli was among those handed a start in Belgium
- But a poor first-half display saw them trail to Lior Refaelov’s 29th-minute strike
- Mourinho did not like what he saw and Alli was one of four hauled off at the break
Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle says it is getting difficult for Dele Alli after he was hauled off at half-time of Tottenham’s defeat at Antwerp.
Dele Alli was among those handed a start in Belgium, but a poor first-half display saw them trail to Lior Refaelov’s 29th-minute strike.
Mourinho did not like what he saw and Alli was one of four men hauled off at the break, the second time in three starts this season he has not made it out for the second half.
Dele Alli was hauled off at half-time of Tottenham’s defeat at Antwerp on Thursday night
Hoddle told BT Sport: ‘I think it is (getting difficult for Alli). This was his opportunity and Jose put him and and said ‘put it (a good performance) between my eyes. But it just didn’t happen for him.
‘In his overall game, he’s giving the ball away too much at times. His options are there and he’s trying his best but it’s not happening for him. Sloppy play is not going to get him back in the team.’
Owen Hargreaves added: ‘He (Alli)’s lacking in confidence and he’s making mistakes. He knows he’s being watched like a hawk by Mourinho, but when your confidence is low you play safe.
Alli was among those handed a start in Belgium but he was clearly lacking in confidence
‘He was just stopping the ball deal instead of keeping it moving. He’s not trying to make mistakes. He needs to get that freedom (which we saw) when he was outrageous a few years ago.’
Jose Mourinho resorted to bringing Harry Kane on, with in-form Son Heung-min one of those already having been sent into action.
Even that duo, who have been in deadly form so far this season, could not spare Tottenham’s blushes as they were beaten for the first time in 10 games.
Antwerp, leaders of the Belgian Pro League, were well worthy of their win, which could have been more handsome, and they remain unbeaten at home in 14 months, taking an early lead in Group J,
Glenn Hoddle says it is getting difficult for Alli after he was hauled off at half-time by Mourinho