Tottenham hope Kane delivers against Chelsea
LONDON: Tottenham will be banking on more Harry Kane heroics at the start of a potentially season-defining week against Chelsea after their talisman fired England to a dramatic last-gasp victory at Wembley.
Kane scored the winner at Tottenham’s temporary home last weekend to relegate Croatia in the Nations League and exact some revenge for England’s semifinal defeat to the same opponents at the World Cup.
“He is the best scorer in the world... his hold-up play, as well as the goals he brings, is critical,” said England manager Gareth Southgate. “He is so hungry to lead the team even further.”
But while England have built on their progress in Russia, Spurs have suffered the after-effects of a demanding summer.
Kane is one of just three Spurs players not to have picked up a muscle injury from Tottenham’s 12-strong World Cup contingent, nine of whom were involved on the final weekend of the tournament less than a month before the new season began.
Despite battling fatigue and fitness concerns, added to the uncertainty over when the club’s new stadium will be finished, Mauricio Pochettino has admirably kept Spurs on track for a topfour finish.
Maurizio Sarri has rightly
earned rave reviews for his 18-game unbeaten start to life as Chelseaboss. Yet,shouldSpurs inflict Sarri’s first defeat, they will leapfrog Chelsea into third, thanks to their impressive start to the Premier League season.
That run has been built on relentless consistency against the lesser lights of England’s top tier. By contrast, Tottenham have been found wanting against better opposition.
Liverpool and Manchester City have already won at Wembley, as have Barcelona in the Champions League to put Spurs’ chances of reaching the last 16 in serious danger.
After Chelsea, Pochettino’s men must beat Inter Milan in midweek to retain any hope of Champions League progress, before facing Unai Emery’s rejuvenated Arsenal next weekend.