As per a report by Daily Express, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at claims that star striker Harry Kane looks like he needs a longer rest following the World Cup.
Kane, 24, has had just one full summer off – in 2017 – in the last four years. Two years ago, he was in France for the European Championships and the year before, he played in the Under-21 equivalent.
Tottenham won their season-opener against Newcastle United last weekend but Kane failed to score. The England international looked off the pace and failed to break his August hoodoo at Newcastle, despite playing 14 games over the past four years.
It sparked suggestions that Pochettino should provide the England captain with a break to rediscover his mojo but our gaffer has hit back at the critics, saying he will never take risks with Kane’s fitness (h/t Daily Express).
“I respect all opinions,” Pochettino was quoted by the Express ahead of the Premier League clash against Fulham at Wembley.
“I only have my own truth. We all have our own truths about what we see and how we manage. We can’t explain how we manage players behind the scenes.
“The people outside don’t know how Harry Kane was after playing 90 minutes last week.
“They don’t know if Sunday Harry was off, Monday off or training or relaxation or one session or in the gym. Be sure that I am not going to take a risk.
“If we are conscious that we would be taking a risk, be sure he is not going to play. But the 25-30 people who are coaches, sport scientists and physios here, we talk a lot about fitness health and everything.
“If we are wrong it is 25-30 people who are wrong. When we take a decision about health it is not a football decision.”
Kane has suffered three ankle ligament injuries in the past two seasons and Pochettino did admit that injuries are part and parcel of the game, regardless of how well a player trains on the pitch.
Kane was Europe’s top goal-scorer in 2017, with 56 goals in 52 games for club and country. In addition, he also won the Golden Boot in the recently concluded World Cup. Our club simply cannot afford to replace him with someone of similar quality. The Englishman is just indispensable for Pochettino and Spurs.
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And to make things all the more interesting, Kane has finally broken his August jinx by scoring a screamer against Fulham on Saturday. The 24-year-old striker had a glorious opportunity and he grasped it with both hands, hence silencing his naysayers.
He did not look like he was struggling on any level and let’s hope Pochettino’s words hold true in the near future.
