Friday 29 April 2016 15:28, UK
Mauricio Pochettino insists Dele Alli will not change his abrasive character despite seeing his season ended by the three-match ban for violent conduct.
Alli was suspended earlier this week for punching Claudio Yacob in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with West Brom on Monday - a result which saw Spurs fall seven points behind Leicester at the top of the Premier League with three games remaining.
The ban brings to an end a memorable first campaign for Alli at Tottenham which culminated in him being crowned PFA Young Player of the Year on Sunday.
Pochettino will now be without the 20-year-old for the Monday Night Football trip to Chelsea - which Spurs realistically must win to stay in the title race if Leicester have not already claimed the trophy with victory at Manchester United - but the Argentine says he will not try to change the England midfielder.
"He has a very strong character and personality and for that he is one of the best players in England. We cannot change him but he made a mistake, everyone can make mistakes," he said.
"It is true when you make a mistake you need to pay and he knows he made a mistake. It is his first season in the Premier League. He is a talented player but he knows.
"It was an action that nobody feels proud of that but it is only a mistake, one mistake, a small mistake. He has paid for that and should learn from that."
Alli is likely to be a key figure for England at Euro 2016 this summer and his suspension may at least allow him to recuperate before the tournament starts.
"It is very important that he keeps his performance and all the levels of physical condition," added Pochettino, who revealed he will sign a new five-year contract at Tottenham in the coming days.
"He will be selected for the Euros and needs to keep his level. For us it is true the next few weeks he cannot play but he needs to work, maybe a little bit more to keep his physical level."
