Poch discusses Dele Alli’s fitness prospects for Champions League final

Ian Watson

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino does not think Dele Alli is in danger of missing the Champions League final despite being substituted against Everton.

The England international was brought off at half-time during the final Premier League game of the season, but Pochettino says it was just a precaution.

With injuries decimating Spurs’ squad in midfield and attack, Alli has been made to play every game in recent weeks and has looked leggy at times.

Alli, who will now have two days off to rest, will be assessed as preparations for the biggest game in the club’s history against Liverpool on June 1 begin in earnest.

Pochettino said: “He didn’t start in the warm-up, he was feeling strange and then his performance was very poor in the first half because he can’t cope with the situation.

“So because of caution, he was out. I think it is not a problem. We need to assess him, but I think he was tired, but for the circumstance again we played with him.

“I think in a normal condition he was for sure not starting the game, but we started with him and, before that problem starts something, at half-time we made the change.”