LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino is adamant that Dele Alli is the best player in the world for his age and says he is surprised by criticism of the Tottenham midfielder.
Born in the same year as Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Anthony Martial, Julian Weigl and Maxi Gomez, Pochettino argued that no-one has done more than 21-year-old Alli.
"For me, Dele Alli, for his age, is the best. That's it. In the world. Tell me one better than him, one 21-year-old, all that he achieves. Tell me one. Now. A current player," Pochettino challenged.
"Maybe you can find similar. But better than him? For me, he is the best because he is my player too. Maybe I am not objective but, for me, he is amazing, all that he is doing."
It was suggested to Pochettino that Manchester City's Sane, who has eight league goals to Alli's six and 11 assists to his nine, is having the better season but the Spurs manager pointed out that Sane was not nearly as good as Alli last year.
"Yes, but this season. Last season who was the best? Dele," he responded.
Of players aged 21 and younger in Europe, only Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, who is just 19, has directly contributed to more league goals (21) than Alli's 15. Sane is exactly nine months older and has already turned 22.
But Alli did not score in 15 appearances before his equaliser in last Saturday's 4-1 win at Bournemouth and he has been criticised for both diving and failing to hit the heights of last season, when he scored over 20 goals.
Asked about the criticism and whether Spurs expected more from Alli in light of Harry Kane's ankle injury, which will sideline him until next month, Pochettino said: "The most important for Dele is us, if we criticise him.
"If we are not happy with him, that is what is important for him. And we never criticise him.
"When you compare him -- Dele Alli, 21-years old -- with all the players in the world, not only in Europe, in the world, I think he is the best. For his age. In his form. Assists and everything. But, and I don't understand why, there is still that feeling [to criticise him]. For me, Dele Alli, for his age, is the best. That's it.
"That question is a little bit [surprising]...wow. We expect more from him? OK. Yes, of course. We want always more. But from the day that he makes his debut with us, in Tottenham, for me, he is one of the best in the world.
"He's a fantastic player. A special player. But that is only my point of view. Maybe it's not important for the people, it's not important for the people who criticise him to listen to me because I am only a simple coach. But I promise you, I am the most critical person with my players. But it is difficult to criticise Dele."
Alli was replaced in the final 10 minutes at Bournemouth with a tight groin and Pochettino hinted that he could be one of the players rested for Saturday's FA Cup quarterfinal at Swansea.
The attacking midfielder has been included in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy, and Pochettino said: "It [his groin] was tight [at Bournemouth].
"He's played a lot of games, international games. Now, we will see for Saturday because in the end, he's going to play for the national team, and the players are not machines."