Mauricio Pochettino compares in-form Tottenham ace Mousa Dembele to Diego Maradona

MAURICIO POCHETTINO says Mousa Dembele’s recent form backs up his claim that the Spurs midfielder is up there with Diego Maradona.

The Tottenham boss wrote in his recent book that Dembele was one of five “genius” players he had encountered in his career.

And the Belgian’s displays in the last month in big games against Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus and Arsenal have gone some way to living up to his manager’s amazing claim.

Pochettino said: “I can only talk about him because I know very well him after nearly four years.

“And I told you and then some people use my words to describe him as a genius of the football.

"And for me he is this type of player, I think I told you in my book, I put him next to Ronaldinho, Maradona, Okocha – players that I was lucky to play with.

“I think for me is one of the unbelievable talents in the history of football.

"It has been difficult for him with his fitness but now he's in an amazing moment.

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“Of course always for him it was difficult to get fit.

“But now he is in an amazing moment and for me he deserves all the praise that people are giving him.”

The 30-year-old was hailed as the perfect midfielder by SunSport columnist Danny Higginbotham after Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Juventus.

He completed 94 of his 99 passes and made four successful dribbles - the highest number on the pitch.