Live

Repeat: Off The Ball

02:00 AM-05:00 AM

Repeat: Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

Mourinho gives update on Alli future and his own relationship with Klopp

Jose Mourinho says he expects Dele Alli to still be at the club after the transfer window closes....



Mourinho gives update on Alli...
Soccer

Mourinho gives update on Alli future and his own relationship with Klopp

Jose Mourinho says he expects Dele Alli to still be at the club after the transfer window closes. 

The attacking midfielder has been linked with a reunion with former boss Mauricio Pochettino and a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Alli's appeared in just four Premier League games this season, and has totalled just 74-minutes between those matches.

Still only 24, a temporary switch to the Ligue 1 champions had been mooted as a way to breathe new life into his faltering career.

But speaking ahead of Thursday's meeting with Liverpool, Mourinho claimed Alli is unlikely to be going anywhere.

"I expect [him to stay] and I am saying that since the beginning of the window," the Spurs boss said.

"I was not expecting anyone to leave or expecting anyone to come. We are almost at the end of the window.

"I don’t believe that anything will happen but it is open still."

Asked if there was a possibility Alli could be on his way, Mourinho replied, "Football is football and the transfer window is open and sometimes unexpected things can happen but I don’t expect it."

Tottenham can move above Liverpool with a win over the champions tomorrow night.

When Jurgen Klopp's side beat Spurs 2-1 in December, they were being spoken of as potential runaway champions for a second season.

But a run of five games without a win have put paid to that.

Despite their marked dip in form, Mourinho still believes Liverpool will be in the title equation come the season's end.

"When you win it you know you are the best team and Liverpool was not just about winning," he said, "It was about winning so comfortably.

"So they know the team they are and they know the players they have. And they know they can do it again.

"Would anyone expect Liverpool to have a similar run to last season when winning, winning and winning non stop? I would not expect that as what they did was so difficult.

"And to win it the second time in the same way is even more difficult. But to win the title again I think they believe they can and I believe that is what they really want."

Mourinho and Klopp exchanged heated words after their pre-Christmas meeting, after the Spurs manager claimed the best team had lost.

But the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United chief insists he has no problem with Klopp, even if their relationship doesn't equate to some of Mourinho's others within the game.

"I'm not a friend of Jurgen because I never had time with Jurgen," he said. "[Wolves boss] Nuno [Espirito Santo] was my player, [Leicester manager] Brendan [Rodgers] worked in my club for a couple of years.

"So when you have something in common or know the person well, you can say I like him, he's my friend or I don't like him, he's not my friend. With Jurgen, it's five minutes before or after match.

"He's a colleague I respect, I don't have any problems with him and I believe he's the same with me. No problems at all."

Deal or no Deal | Writing off Liverpool, Lampard’s next move, Tuchel’s plan

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Dele Alli Jose Mourinho Jurgen Klopp Liverpool Mauricio Pochettino Premier League Tottenham Tottenham Hotspur