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José Mourinho Delivers Fitness Update on Dele Alli Ahead of FA Cup Replay Against Southampton

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that Dele Alli's injury is 'not as bad' as was first thought and, as a result, there is 'a chance' that he could feature for Spurs against Southampton on Wednesday in the FA Cup. 

Alli was on the receiving end of a rash challenge from Raheem Sterling during the north London side's 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday. The City forward was only shown a yellow card and while Alli continued, he was eventually substituted in the 70th minute. 

Dele Alli, Jose Mourinho

Mourinho has now revealed that the injury he sustained was not as bad as first feared. Moreover, there is a chance that he could even feature against ​Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round replay on Wednesday.


"Not as bad [as we thought], so there is a chance. There is a chance of him playing tomorrow, so wait and see, but there is a chance," Mourinho said, as quoted by ​the Daily Mail. 

"It is just a question of being a little bit lucky or unlucky. You need a little bit of luck. Dele Alli was very lucky. Did Sterling want to injure him? I don't think so, I don't believe that he wanted to.

Jose Mourinho

"So respect to ​Sterling, I have no problem at all. But the intention does not count. What counts is the action. It is a red card."

Sterling's tackle was checked by VAR, but it was deemed to be worthy of only a yellow, not a red. The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss was once again keen to share his thoughts, claiming that it should not be called 'VAR' if the referee is not allowed to check the pitch-side monitor. 

"The only thing I can say is, if the referees are not allowed to go to the [pitch-side] screen and take the big decisions of the game, they have to change the name of the VAR and call it VR - video referee."

Elsewhere, the 57-year-old has revealed that Ben Davies has returned to training following an ankle injury he sustained in November, with the ​Spurs boss hopeful he will be fit to face Aston Villa on February 16. 

Ben Davies

"He's training with us since Monday. Of course, after [Wednesday] the boys are going to have some time [off] but not him, he has to stay and work. So when we start the week of Aston Villa he will be training with us fully, so if everything goes well he will be good for the Villa game."


As for Victor Wanyama, he has missed out on a place in Spurs' ​Champions League squad. Mourinho added: "I feel safer by having Michel [Vorm] on the list. I don't want to have the risk of losing Paulo [Gazzaniga] or Hugo [Lloris] and not to have Michel on the list.


"Victor is in a position where we have lots of players - [Harry] Winks, [Eric] Dier, [Oliver] Skipp and Gedson [Fernandes]."


Source : 90min