Jose Mourinho says Dele Alli is ‘paying the price’ for Tottenham’s ‘huge squad’ after he was left at home for the trip to Premier League rivals Southampton.
England international Alli was left out of Spurs’ matchday squad for Sunday’s trip to St Mary’s, with Mourinho confirming his absence was not down to injury.
Asked whether Alli was struggling with a fitness concern, Mourinho said before the match: ‘No. We have a huge squad, a squad with numbers that are very difficult to manage.
‘I never had it, I don’t like to have it and it’s not easy for me. I start with Son, with Lucas and with Harry Kane and on the bench I still have Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn.
‘We have too many players for some positions and some of them are paying the price for this.’
Reacting to Alli’s omission, Glenn Hoddle said on BT Sport: ‘He isn’t playing as well as he can, but he’s a goal machine from midfield.
‘He’s got work to do with his all-round game, he needs to get back to his best and he’ll play again.
‘At this moment in time, tactically Jose wants to play three in midfield rather than a ten and that’s hurt Dele.
‘But I hope he doesn’t down tools because he’ll come back again.’
Tottenham completed deals for Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon this weekend but neither were involved at Southampton.
