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Lionel Messi claim made by Tottenham star Dele Alli ahead of Barcelona clash
DELE ALLI is relishing facing Lionel Messi when Tottenham take on Barcelona for one reason.
Tottenham may have to win at the Nou Camp on Tuesday (8pm) to guarantee progressing from the Champions League group stages into the last 16 of the competition.
Alli missed the corresponding tie at Wembley through injury, while Messi has returned to fine form after recovering from a broken arm.
Tottenham warmed up for the match with a 2-0 victory away to Leicester on Saturday and Alli got on the scoresheet, hitting his 50th goal for the north London outfit.
Barcelona were rampant against crosstown rivals Espanyol, chalking up a 4-0 win with Messi scoring twice.
And Alli has explained why he can’t wait to pit his wits against Messi.
“He is a player that everyone idolised,” he said.
“He is a joy to watch.”
On what it will be like to play at the Nou Camp, he said: “You want to be challenging yourself and we're going there with the mentality that we can win.
He is a player that everyone idolised. He is a joy to watch
“We have to believe.
“It's going to be a difficult game but you want to be playing the world's greatest players.
“As a kid you dream about playing at the Nou Camp and we're going to give it our best shot.”
Meanwhile, Pochettino, who has been continually linked with Manchester United, has played down suggestions he could take over if Jose Mourinho is fired.
He said: “The most important thing is I feel so happy here Tottenham has given me the value.
“I feel happy here in Tottenham because I feel the recognition for our job.
“When Daniel Levy extended my contract for five years, it is because he believed in that moment and period, we are the best people to manage this boat and this club.”