Dele Alli has revealed that his relationship with former boss Mauricio Pochettino was a close one and other managers failed to replicate such a bond.
Pochettino brought Dele to Tottenham Hotspur back in 2015 from League One side Milton Keynes Dons, and the midfielder quickly kicked on and became one of Europe's best young players.
Dele twice hit double figures of goals in the Premier League and was a starter in Spurs' only Champions League final.
However, Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham in 2019 and replaced by Jose Mourinho. Despite starting life well under the Portuguese coach, Dele was then ostracised by Mourinho and failed to make lasting impressions under successors Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.
Dele signed for Everton in January 2022 before joining Besiktas on loan for the 2022/23 season.
Speaking in an emotional and wide-ranging interview on with Gary Neville, Dele opened up on how important Pochettino was in his life and career.
«Poch was...I couldn't have asked for a better manager for the time I was in. Him and his team, Jesus [Perez], Miguel [D'Agostino], Toni [Jimenez]. Amazing people and so understanding,» he said.
«It wasn't like a footballer-and-manager relationship, it was deeper. I felt that was what I needed at that time.
»He was just so understanding of the decisions I was making and he cared about me as a person before football, which is what I needed at that time. I think that's important for young players. When you go somewhere [new], it can be quite scary. I never had that fear of trying to prove myself in that sense, he was giving me that platform to express myself the best I could.
«Players always used to say that I was fearless. I weren't fearless, I was just brave, I think there's a big
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