Eric Dier has told Sky Sports that Tottenham teammate Dele Alli is "not a malicious player" after the midfielder's tackle on Kevin De Bruyne.
Alli was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after a reckless studs-up challenge in Spurs' 4-1 defeat at Manchester City last Saturday. Alli had previously caught Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho with his studs.
Last season, the 21-year-old received the first red card of his career for a challenge on Gent's Brecht Dejaegere in February, while he has previously been accused of stamping on Fiorentina and Crystal Palace players, but Dier defended his Spurs and England teammate.
"Dele is not a malicious player," he said. "He's made a tackle, the referee made a decision, gave him a yellow card and that's that really.
"You know, it's football. The speed at which it is played there are going to be bad tackles, there are going to be good tackles and that's football. It's a really important period in the next four games. We're looking to pick up maximum points and we'll try to do that."
Meanwhile, Spurs winger Erik Lamela has said he is still receiving treatment on the hip problems that sidelined him for 13 months.
Lamela made his first start since Oct. 22, 2016, in Spurs' 2-0 win over Brighton earlier this month after finally making his comeback against Leicester at the end of November.
Asked if he was completely free of the problem, Lamela said: "I am much better and I want to be always better, so I am training very day and still doing my treatment. With time, I will see.
"It's really nice to be back and to be training very day like the other players."