Dele Alli has come under intense criticism for a dive against Swansea, and infuriated the CSKA Moscow players by appearing to shoot when returning the ball after a stoppage.
Spurs' young sensation is often involved in such questionable actions on the pitch, but his manager believes that it is a sign of his confidence returning to him.
'He'll regret that' ï‘ï�»
Watch @Dele_Alli get slapped by @SpursOfficial teammate @EricDier.#THFC pic.twitter.com/7KLoCDHsnd
It was close, but he promised to me he wasn't trying to score.�Pochettino said to theMirror, of the Moscow incident.
Dele Alli is Dele Alli because he's a little bit naughty.He needs the naughtiness in context. Don't cross the line but this is a little bit his identity. It's who is he. Dele Alli is Dele Alli because of how he is."
The fire in Alli's belly helped him score his first goal for six weeks at Wembley, and the 20-year-old was also impactful against Swansea aside from the dive.
It's his character, in a good way. He's a brilliant boy. He has a brilliant brain, he's very smart. He is very sensitive, very intuitive and because he comes from a difficult background you can understand when you're with him. But he's a very nice person - off the pitch.�
Mauricio Pochettino appreciates devil in the play of Spurs' Dele Alli https://t.co/pLTYmoxlQ4 #COYS pic.twitter.com/bDMWhH5kGe
Alli was one of many Tottenham players to sign a new, long-term contract at the club in recent months. The Englishman is rumoured to be on PSG's radar, though.
I think he was struggling a little bit with some problems, they were small but they can affect your game and now he is recovering his form and that's important for the team, and we are improving as a collective because Harry Kane is much better and now Toby is back again, Ben Davies, different players and when we are together, we feel that we can beat everyone.�
Spurs travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, hoping to make it three wins on the bounce in all competitions.