Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte was full of praises for Dele Alli who left the club to join Merseyside giants Everton on the last day of the recently concluded winter transfer window. While speaking with the media ahead of the FA Cup fifth round clash with Brighton and Hove Albion at home on Sunday, Conte said that new Everton midfielder Dele Alli needed a new challenge away from Spurs. TheEngland international moved from Spurs to Everton earlier this week in a deal that could fetch the North London team up to €40m based on the various clauses inserted into the transfer.
England international Alli rarely featured in the starting XI under Conte especially in the Premier League, but that is expected to change under Lampard who was made the new Everton manager last week. He was appointed as the man to take the manager’s job from Rafael Benitez.
Everton sacked Benitez after a run of one league win in 13 attempts. Club legend Duncan Ferguson was in temporary charge of the last league game which ended in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. It was the second time for Ferguson having also held an interim role when Everton dismissed Dutchman Ronald Koeman as their manager two seasons ago. Big Duncan as he’s fondly called by the Everton faithfuls, was in the dugout for some games before Italian Carlo Ancelotti became the manager.
Lampard will take charge of his first game as the Everton manager when they take on Brentford in the FA Cup this weekend. His first league match is an important one as he would take his team to battle with Newcastle United away from home next week.
