Alli’s combustible nature was back in the spotlight recently when he was handed a three-match European ban for a wild challenge on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere during Tottenham’s Europa League clash at Wembley last month.
The 20-year-old England international also served a three-match suspension for punching West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob towards the end of last season as Spurs slipped out of the Premier League title race.
“There’s been a lot said about me and my aggression but I think, to be honest, it’s not something I’m going to look to change,” Alli told reporters.
“That’s the player I am, I’ve always been like that since I was younger. It’s about getting it under control and I think I’ve been doing that.
“I’ve got to keep improving and learning; not to play with less aggression but how I react in different situations.”
Alli said he was “relieved” not to have seriously hurt Dejaegere, especially after seeing Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman suffer a double leg break in a tackle by Wales’ Neil Taylor in A World Cup qualifier on Friday.
“I feel sorry for Seamus… I’m sure the guy (Taylor) didn’t mean to do that.” he added. “Like my tackle; I felt I was relieved that nothing bad happened to the player.”
Second-placed Spurs visit 13th-placed Burnley in a Premier League encounter on Saturday.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru)
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