Alex McLeish has made the bizarre comparison between Tottenham ace Dele Alli and British tennis player Andy Murray.
Spurs’ attacking midfielder has come under the spotlight for a series of incidents in recent weeks, which included picking up a one-match ban from Fifa for making an offensive gesture during England’s win over Slovakia.
The 21-year-old was also booked for simulation for his club against Huddersfield at the weekend and has the reputation for being a fiery character.
Former Scotland manager McLeish, who was appearing as a Sky pundit on the Debate Show, has compared Alli to tennis star Murray.
McLeish states that the Spurs attacker will learn from his mistakes and find some self-control, drawing comparisons with 30-year-old Scotsman Murray.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Murray has also been known to be a fiery character in his sporting discipline, but that has begin to fade out of his game with age.
“It is about controlling his emotion,” McLeish told The Debate. “Those petty things he can easily get rid of. He just needs a bit of self-control. Think of Andy Murray, he liked to have a real go at himself, and people wondered whether he was losing it. Did it make him a better player? Dele Alli will learn from his mistakes, he is a quick learner.”
OPINION
Many pundit have urged Alli to calm down a bit on the pitch, but that extra edge to his game is part of what makes him so special. The simulation is something that manager Mauricio Pochettino must speak to the player about and that does need to be stamped out of his game immediately. However, the tough tackling and competitive nature is part of his game and sets him above most players in the Premier League. He has the technical ability to become a superstar for Spurs and England and is already beginning to realise the pressure that will come with that.