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7 months ago
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Mauricio Pochettino couldn't stop smiling as he sent a heartfelt message to Dele Alli as the Everton midfielder made his debut media appearance on Sky's Monday Night Football show.
Alli swapped the pitch for the studio to provide analysis of Everton's trip to Chelsea as the 28-year-old continues his rehabilitation from injury that has stopped him from making a single appearance this season.
His appearance alongside Jamie Carragher and David Jones was Alli's first media appearance since his powerful interview with Gary Neville on the Overlap last year.
The interview saw Alli open up on past childhood trauma and the pressures that come with being a professional footballer, while he also revealed that he had been to rehab after becoming addicted to sleeping pills.
Pochettino beamed as he spoke to Alli via a studio connection on Monday as the Everton star came face-to-face with his former Spurs coach.
Mauricio Pochettino couldn't stop smiling as he sent a heartfelt message to Dele Alli on Sky's Monday Night Football show
Alli was making his MNF debut as the Everton star covered his side's trip to Chelsea
Alli and Pochettino previously starred alongside each other during their years at Tottenham
'Good evening, this is new for me, I was in my manager's room watching your interview earlier,' Pochettino said on Sky Sports.
'I need to talk now. I cannot see you but I want to say hello to Dele.
'What a player, oh my goodness, oh my goodness. It's good to see you there and I am happy to see you.'
Pochettino previously educated the former England international during his career-best years at Tottenham and was one of the first of Alli's former colleagues to send a message of support at the time of last year's interview.
Alli starred under the now-Chelsea manager at Spurs where he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award as Tottenham went close to winning the Premier League.
Alli is yet to make an appearance for Everton this season after struggling with injuries
He also started for Spurs in the 2019 Champions League final that saw Pochettino's side beaten by Liverpool in the European showdown.
Meanwhile, Alli used his time in the Sky studio to reveal how he was surprised at the reaction to his previous emotional interview conducted with Neville.
'I think when I said when I was on that, when I'd done the interview, I said to help one person, that was all,' he said.
'I needed to do it for my own reasons, obviously. But to help one person that was all I wanted from it, and the reaction I got and the support, you know, it was definitely overwhelming.'
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