Dele ‘pure class’ – Toby

For Tom Brady to Julian Edelman read Toby Alderweireld to Dele. Toby played the ‘quarterback’ role to perfection and Dele, with a hand from Heung-Min Son, provided the finishes Toby’s passes deserved in our 3-2 win against Bournemouth on Saturday.

All-time great of the NFL, Brady would have been impressed by the ‘soccer’ version of his sporting art as Toby twice dropped 50-yard passes onto a sixpence leading to our opening two goals.

The first led to Sonny’s deft touch to set-up Dele’s opener, the second even better, a drilled ping with a bit of fade that saw Dele dart between defenders, control and clip over advancing goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Moussa Sissoko soon made it 3-0 and despite Bournemouth’s late revival, it was a third win in three for Jose Mourinho.

Toby explained: “You have to look if there is space behind. Sonny and Dele made the runs. I’m looking for that ball, not all the time, but if I see the run, if I see the space behind, I try to give a good ball in that space behind.

“I know as a defender it’s a difficult ball to defend and the lads did wonderfully. The first one in the way Sonny gave it to Dele was unbelievable. The second one for Dele was quite similar to a goal at Everton (January, 2016). That’s pure class.”

That made it three goals in three games for Dele, plus a couple of assists. “He’s playing in his way, showing his qualities,” said Toby. “He knows he can run, he knows he can pass the ball and he comes in front of goal and he’s clinical. That’s the Dele we want to see.”