Europa League: Spurs star Alli at a crossroads as Ajax and United cement resurgence - five things we learned

Alli age no excuse for another costly blunder

Dele Alli is a sublimely talented footballer, anyone with a sound head can see that week in and week out. Sadly, he seems to lose his own head when Spurs play games crucial to their seasons.

His needless punch on Claudio Yacob in the Premier League last season and subsequent suspension proved the catalyst for the derailing of the Lilywhite title bid as Leicester eased to their fairytale trophy.

The hot-headed challenge that curtailed his night when Spurs desperately needed his goals to overcome a frustrating Gent away goal another sign that he clearly can’t control the much talked about devil in pressure cooker atmospheres.

Despite missing Danny Rose again, Spurs still had enough chances on the night and a squad capable of taking their fans all the way to Stockholm in May but instead they must now rely on an FA Cup triumph for elusive silverware with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all still left in that draw.

Mauricio Pochettino needs to be careful that all his good work is not undone again by a silly few weeks. More importantly, he needs to remind Alli that one player is not bigger than the club no matter how talented he is.

Read More: Match report as Spurs crash out

Ajax’s stingy defence serves them well again

When the name Ajax is uttered, your mind instantly conjures up silky, attacking football however Peter Bosz’s current incarnation have got their season back on track by tightening up defensively.

After two draws and two defeats in December competition home and abroad, they have reeled off seven wins and a goalless draw in their Europa League first leg at Legia Warsaw.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the return leg’s first half at the Amsterdam ArenA, Colombian stalwart Davinson Sánchez joined by Dutch international Jaïro Riedewald to help stifle the visitors in the heart of the Ajax defence.

Nick Viergever’s goal four minutes after the interval settled the home nerves with skipper Davy Klaassen marshalling his troops extremely well so Legia’s chances came at a premium.

If Bosz can get Chelsea loan star Bertrand Traoré to click more alongside Amin Younes and Kasper Dolberg up front, there is no reason why Ajax can’t win their first European trophy since the famous 1995 Champions League team.

United are on the brink of a genuine trophy run

It has taken a while for the Fergie transition to fully play out Old Trafford way, however the way Manchester United are playing currently it appears that we are on the brink.

Much like his thankless predecessors David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho struggled initially to inject the right amount of belief and tactical cohesion into his superstar squad.

The last five months, though, has seen his charges go on an impressive run of only three defeats in 35 games off the back of the chastening 3-1 Premier League humbling at Watford and suggests he has conjured up a winning formula to challenge on all fronts.

United did not really need to get out of second gear against St Etienne after romping to victory in last week’s first leg, this weekend’s EFL Cup final a better sign of whether they have truly turned the corner against a rejuvenated Southampton team.

Should they walk up the Wembley steps as winners on Sunday, you get the feeling that a Europa League triumph in Stockholm on May 24 will not be far behind whatever fate awaits them in the FA Cup and chase for Champions League places back home.

Anderlecht deny Zenit historic home comeback

Zenit St. Petersburg knew they faced a tall order against an Anderlecht side two goals to the good, even with home advantage for the second leg.

The Belgians were in the driving seat thanks to Frank Acheampong’s brace last week, but their cushion was cut in half by Giuliano before the break.

Artem Dzyuba’s 72nd-minute strike levelled matters on aggregate, Giuliano’s second seemingly sealing Zenit’s superb comeback only for Isaac Kiese Thelin to head a dramatic injury-time consolation that saw Anderlecht through.

With talismanic skipper Youri Tielemans in fine form too, of late, René Weiler’s side will be an awkward proposition in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile Zenit’s last ever European game at the Petrovsky Stadium before they switch to the newly constructed Krestovsky Stadium sadly proved a damp squib for the home fans.

Krasnodar will relish dark horse status in the next round

While fellow Group A qualifiers Manchester United were easing into the Round of 16 in St Etienne, Fenerbahce fell at the same hurdle against a stubborn FC Krasnodar side.

The Turkish outfit were expected to overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit after winning their last seven European home games, but were immediately on the back foot when Russian international Fyodor Smolov scored with the visitors’ first shot of the night.

Despite fielding potent attacking threats Robin van Persie, Moussa Sow and Jeremain Lens as a front three, they could only pull one goal back before the break through Souza.

Igor Shalimov’s half-time chat seemed to reinforce the conviction amongst his visiting players that they could resist the anticipated onslaught to seal their progress and they duly held firm.

Shalimov is very much a slow burner as a coach, his journeyman career as a player in Serie A for the likes of Inter Milan and Napoli no doubt instilling a healthy dose of catenaccio that could see them go even further off the back of a good draw.

Join me on 9th March for the next round of reflection.

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