Jose Mourinho ‘upset’ as Dele Alli ‘creates problems for his own team’ in Tottenham’s win over Stoke

Jose Mourinho cast further doubt over Dele Alli’s Tottenham future after singling out the playmaker for criticism after the Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Stoke City.

Dele was handed a rare start in the 3-1 win at the bet365 Stadium.

But he was guilty of losing the ball as the home side scored a surprise equaliser less than 10 minutes after half-time.

Spurs still went on to win, but Mourinho was withering in his assessment of Dele after Jordan Thompson struck in the 53rd minute.

He was overheard allegedly saying: “Your flick has cost us that goal.”

Asked afterwards, Mourinho said: “For me, a player that plays in that position is a player that has to link and has to create and not to create problems for his own team.

“Of course in that situation there, an objective counter-attack could probably end with a goal or with an action and instead it leads to a counter-attack behind our defenders.

"Of course we were imbalanced because when you have possession you have full-backs out wide and another midfielder in a different line and they caught us in a counter-attack and they transformed the result of the game. That was totally in our hands, so yes I am upset.”

Dele’s Spurs future is in doubt after becoming a bit-part player under Mourinho. And with the January transfer window rapidly approaching, his departure could come sooner rather than later.

Asked if the fringe players, including Dele, had taken their chance on the night, Mourinho added: “Some yes, some no.”

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