Dele Alli has 'a lot to learn' after kick out, admits Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino

Naive: Alli is still learning his craft
ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images
Sam Long18 February 2016

Mauricio Pochettino believes Dele Alli still has "a lot to learn" after the Tottenham midfielder appeared to aim a kick at an opponent during tonight's 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.

The 19-year-old was booked just after the half hour mark of the north Londoners' last-32 first-leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi following a challenge with Nenad Tomovic.

The Serbian defender reacted angrily after he tussled for the ball with Alli and replays suggested he had good reason to.

Television footage seemed to show Alli clip the defender with his trailing leg rather than pull it out of the way.

Pochettino claimed he did not see the incident himself but conceded the teenager needs to curb such instances from his game.

"We need to look at the video and try to teach him," Pochettino told BT Sport.

"He is a young player and he has a lot to learn about elite football. It is his first season in the Premier League at Tottenham.

"He came from League One, he needs to learn a lot, still learn. But I didn't see (the incident). Some people say 'yes', say 'no', so I don't know."

Alli was part of a much-changed Spurs side as Pochettino opted to make several alterations to the team which beat Manchester City last weekend.

Nacer Chadli's penalty had appeared to put Spurs on course for a routine victory but Fiorentina equalised through Federico Bernardeschi and the visitors were perhaps fortunate to survive a late comeback.

However, Pochettino defended the decision to leave a number of key men on the bench as he is adamant rotation will be crucial as Tottenham fight for silverware on three fronts.

"It is important to play with the squad," he said.

"We have a strong squad to try to fight for every competition, we need to use all of the squad. I am happy with all of the players.

"Six changes from the City game and I'm happy, it is not important to talk about using the squad. It is important how we compete, we have big motivation."

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