Alli pleased to bounce back after shock week in Europe for Spurs

Dele Alli was delighted to bounce back from last week’s European horror show on both a personal and team level.

The attacking midfielder saw red for a sickening tackle on KAA Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere in the Europa League on Thursday, leaving Tottenham to play for more than half the game with ten men.

Spurs subsequently crashed out of Europe with Alli facing a ban that will keep him out of any potential European action early next season.

But with a goal in his side’s 4-0 demolition of Stoke City on Sunday, he hopes both he and his team have put the ghosts of Gent to bed.

“It’s been a difficult week for me but the club has shown me a lot of support,” said the 20-year-old. “I felt horrible straight after that game (against KAA Gent), not just going out of the competition, but also doing that to the team.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

“I felt sorry and apologised to the team at half-time, as soon as it happened. I felt horrible and I wanted to bounce back and help the team as much as I could and most importantly, we got the win.

“We all back each other, we all help each other as much as we can. It was important for me that I bounced back and helped the team as much as I could.

“I felt everyone played well and it was important to do that for the fans as well.”