Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night after Gent twice came from behind to hold them to a 2-2 draw.
That result meant Belgium’s eighth-best side triumphed 3-2 on aggregate having edged the first leg.
And so, Spurs suffered more disappointment at Wembley.
Christian Eriksen and Victor Wanyama got the goals on the night, but the Lilywhites’ mentality once again came under scrutiny.
It certainly didn’t help matters that Spurs had to play much of the game with ten men after Dele Alli’s horrific challenge on Brecht Dejaegere.
The England international was lucky not to have broken his opponent’s leg, and the Gent man was forced off in the second half despite struggling to continue.
Incredibly, this was the fiery playmaker’s first red card of his senior career.
Yet, this isn’t the first time the starlet’s ill-discipline has cost Tottenham. The 20-year-old missed crucial games at the end of last season after appearing to punch West Brom’s Claudio Yacob, subsequently receiving a three-match ban.
Mauricio Pochettino is clearly aware of the problem, but he refused to blame the star for letting the side down.
“He is very disappointed and sad,” Pochettino said, quoted via Sky Sports.
Horrible from Dele Alli .https://t.co/QiQg8CVBTL
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) February 23, 2017
“In football, it happens. He knows he made a mistake. Now he tries to move on and improve. In the future we must avoid that situation.
“It’s difficult. It’s not to justify him but it’s a different action, he was fouled before, it was an action that was a clear foul. That’s not to blame the referee but the action came in very soon, that tackle, and I think he deserved to be sent off. He knows. But that kind of action can always happen.
“It’s only one and a half years he is playing for Tottenham in the Premier League, all that he achieved in a very short period is because he is special and a special boy.
“He has unbelievable personality and character. But before that he is a great player.
“In the same way, he is how he is. He is very passionate to play football and sometimes this action happens. Now it’s time to support him, he is very sad and disappointed in the changing room.”
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