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Dele Alli Responds To Jose Mourinho's 'Brother' Challenge In The Perfect Way

Dele Alli Responds To Jose Mourinho's 'Brother' Challenge In The Perfect Way

Dele Alli assisted Son Heung-min's opening goal at West Ham after being challenged by Jose Mourinho this week.

Sunni Upal

Sunni Upal

Dele Alli delivered the perfect response to Jose Mourinho's challenge to up his game by assisting Spurs' opening goal at West Ham.

The 23-year-old midfielder had been in poor form under Mauricio Pochettino and fallen out of the England reckoning as a result.

New Tottenham manager Mourinho questioned Alli this week over his recent performances, and the England man looked like a completely new player.

Alli assisted Son Heung-min's opener at the London Stadium in the 36th minute, and then his desire to chase down a lost cause and keep the ball in play led to a second from Lucas Moura.

Mourinho explained earlier this week: "I have already spoken with him and I asked him if he was Dele or Dele's brother. He told me he was Dele. 'OK,' I said. 'Play like Dele'.

"I think he is potentially a fantastic player. Now I have to create a tactical situation he is happy with, give him the right dynamics and prepare him physically well because he has had important injuries and he is not on the top of his form.

"I cannot expect him to play on Saturday - if he plays - and go there and be man of the match.

"But he needs to go through a process that will bring the real Dele back because the real Dele is the one who in the last few years has impressed us all."

Alli looked lively in the No 10 role behind Harry Kane in the first half, running at the West Ham defence and threatening to carve them open on a number of occasions.

He eventually did unlock the Hammers defence in the 36th minute with a ball around the corner to Son, who fired past Roberto to open the scoring.

Alli then chased down a ball that looked to be heading out for a throw-in in the 43rd minute and just about kept it in play.

The 23-year-old then slid the ball to Son again, and this time the Korean picked out Lucas Moura at the far post to make it 2-0 to Tottenham.

Mourinho's reaction to Alli chasing down the ball showed how happy he was with the response, applauding the 23-year-old from his technical area just metres away.

A man-management masterclass from Mourinho.

Tottenham held on for a 3-2 victory in Mourinho's first match in charge.

Harry Kane added a third for Spurs early in the second half before Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna made it a nervy ending for Jose and Co.

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Topics: Jose Mourinho, Dele Alli