Lothar Matthaus believes that Tottenham sensation Dele Alli must control being wound-up on a football pitch and let his natural game shine through.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the best talents in English football, but is building a reputation for a fiery character that can be involved in heated moments.
He has already missed the opening three Champions League games of this campaign through suspension after a reckless challenge during Spurs’ Europa League elimination last season.
The attacking midfielder is expected to fear on Wednesday night when the North London club host Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.
Alli was also involved in a spat with Manchester United’s Ashley Young at the weekend and it is the latest in a long line of incidents surrounding the youngster.
Matthaus feels that Alli has enough quality to stay away from controversial moments and focus purely on winning football matches.
“Dele Alli doesn’t have to show me or anyone else anything — because he has already proved his quality,” Matthaus wrote in the Sun.
“The last thing he needs is to be more wound-up to play. He must control himself and let his natural game come through.
“We all know what he can do. He can score and assist against the best teams. He’s such an important player, for both Tottenham and England. What matters is he plays without putting himself under any pressure.”
OPINION
Alli should perhaps consider taking a leaf out of the book of teammate Harry Kane, who is proving to be a brilliant role model. The Spurs pair are two of the most high-profile names in English football right now and can’t afford to be involved in too many controversial moments. Alli is going to be under severe scrutiny from everyone whenever he plays and needs to stamp out aspects such as diving to allow him to become a complete player. Kane is earning rave reviews right now for his performances both on and off the pitch, something that Alli should aspire to.