Dele Alli expects his critics will still have something to say despite his match-winning performance in Tottenham s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The England international scored twice in the second half to help Spurs to a 3-1 win, their first at Stamford Bridge in the top flight in 28 years.
Alli had only scored six times in the league prior to Sunday s match and has been criticised for a perceived dip in form compared to 2016-17, when he scored 18 times and provided seven assists in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old, though, does not feel he had a point to prove against the champions and thinks there will always be scrutiny of his displays.
I m sure people will still be disappointed with the way I ve played. They ll have something to say, he told Sky Sports.
For me, it was just about helping the team as much as I can. Like I ve said before, what people say, I try not to let it affect me as much as I can.
I don t think I had a point to prove. I just had to get into the starting 11 and help the team.
2 Dele Alli has scored his first brace in the Premier League since January 2017, which also came against Chelsea (2-0 at White Hart Lane). Catalyst.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was delighted with Alli s display but feels he should be given room to breathe in his development.
He s a great talent and I have no doubts about him, said Pochettino. Young players need room to breathe. There s pressure on their shoulders. But he has nothing to show to me or Tottenham. It s more about the expectation being so high.
I m so happy for him.
Alli s double came after Christian Eriksen s stunning strike cancelled out Alvaro Morata s opener for Chelsea.
The result means Antonio Conte s side are now eight points behind fourth-place Spurs with just seven league games remaining, but Alli does not think the race for the Champions League places has been settled.
I can t say we re guaranteed [a top-four spot], he said. We re in great form, we ve got a few games left, so we just have to make sure we keep winning. We can t get carried away.
Obviously, we d have liked to win the league, but we have to take what we can and keep building.
