Kane silences critics with hat-trick
Harry Kane cast away any doubts about his commitment to the Tottenham Hotspur cause with a sublime hattrick in the 5-1 win over NS Mura on Thursday.
Kane’s performance has put him back among the world’s top goal scorers.
Critics had gone quieter after questioning Kane’s mood after Spurs’ woeful performance in last Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal.
Kane has struggled to get involved in Spurs’ minimal build-up play this season with Nuno Espirito Santo preferring to play a far dourer style of football than Mauricio Pochettino.
Yet, Kane looked a sharp forward playing in the same kind of system under Jose Mourinho, so many were surmising that Kane wasn’t playing well as a result of being unhappy at the club.
Spurs boss Santo said they started very well and their dynamic was good.
“The beginning of the second half, they scored. After that we played good. A good game,” he said.
“It (the triple sub) was needed. The best way to prepare the players is to play. The minutes were important for the boys. A lot of positives.”
Rodgers still hopeful
Leicester’s indifferent start to the season continued on Thursday as they were beaten 1-0 by Legia Warsaw in the Europa League, thanks to a fine strike from Mahir Emreli.
Brendan Rodgers made six changes to his starting line-up from the weekend draw at Burnley, benching many of his star players, and it showed in a lacklustre first half.
“It’s very open, there are four games to go,” Rodgers said.
“Legia have made a good start but our aim is to qualify. We still have work to do.
“We’ve got one point from two games but there is enough time to do that.
“I’m disappointed with the result. We were too passive in the game in the first half. Then we had a couple of really good chances.
“I’ve made the changes but it doesn’t take away the importance from it. We have four more games to qualify. As a football club, we’re new to the level.”
Results
FC Copenhagen 3-1 Lincoln Red Imps, Zorya Luhansk 0-3 Roma, Tottenham 5-1 NS Mura, Alashkart 2-4 HJK Halsinki, LASK 1-1 Marcabi Tel-Aviv, KAA Gent 2-0 Anorthosis Famaga, Partizan Belgrade 2-0 Flora, CSKA Sofia 0-0 Bodo/Glint, AZ Alkuraar 1-0 FK Jablonec, CRF Cluj 1-1 Randes FC, Union Berlin 3-0 Maccabi Haifa, Feyenoord 2-1 Slavia Prague, Sparta Prag 1-0 Rangers, Leia Warsaw 1-0 Leicester, Marseille 0-0 Galatasray, Celtic 0-4 B Levekusen, West Ham 2-0 Rapid Vienna, Lyon 3-0 Brondby IF, Real Sociedad 1-1 Monaco, Napoli 2-3 Spartak Moscow.
- The Marca/ Sky Sports
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