'It was a tactical yellow!' - Dele Alli hits back after receiving red card on Como debut and vows to 'achieve greatness' with Serie A newcomers

Como boss Cesc Fabregas handed Dele his Como debut on Saturday but saw the former Tottenham star sent off less than 10 minutes after coming on in a nightmare afternoon for the midfielder. Dele was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fabregas was critical of his new signing after the match.

Dele has had to be patient and wait for his chances at Como after arriving at the club back in December. He now faces more time on the sidelines due to suspension and has now explained what he was trying to do when he came on at San Siro.

He told the club's media: "It was definitely a special feeling just because I know the journey. I'd been obviously focused on the game and trying to help the team. We were 2-1 down, so I wanted to go out there, I wanted to help, to score or help the team score, just play a part and turn the result around. For me it was clear what I was trying to do, it was a tactical foul, a tactical yellow, no malice or force, or recklessness in the challenge. You see the pictures after the game of my stud on his calf but there was no force or anything. If you pause the image of course it looks bad."

Dele has signed an 18-month contract with Como and is confident he can achieve success with the Serie A side despite a disappointing start. He added: "I hope to achieve a lot of things, trying to achieve greatness because I think that's what Como is destined for and I want to be a part of that."

Saturday's defeat to Milan means Como head into the international break in 13th place in the Serie A table and just seven points off the bottom three. Fabregas's side return to action on March 29 against relegation-threatened Empoli.