THE SILVA LINING IF WE MAKE EUROPE
Poch’s man of the year can fill void left by Kane
Premier League: Kick-off 3pm MARCO SILVA insists Everton will be able to cope with the demands of
Europa League football if they qualify.
The Blues visit relegated Fulham today looking to secure four wins on the trot in the Premier League, a run which has put them in with a chance of finishing seventh this term.
If Manchester City win the FA Cup, that will be good enough to earn a Europa League place – but it will mean an early start to next season for the qualifying rounds.
Burnley qualified last season and began this campaign on July 26. They’d played six Europa League games by the end of August.
Silva, though, has experience of that from his time as manager of Estoril, while he was also in charge of Greek side Olympiakos in early Champions League engagements.
“I have already managed both situations, Europa League play-offs and Champions League group stages,” he said. “It’s nothing new for me as a manager and for me it was never a problem if you do the right things and prepare well.”
Silva (above) believes it should be Everton’s mission to be in Europe every season, even if the Europa League is sometimes looked upon as an inconvenience, because it helps to attract players.
“A club like ours has to have this target to play European football every season,” he said.
“This is my aim for our club. It has to be our culture as a football club.
“I know it is not easy but it has to be our goal.
“When you play in these competitions it’s very good for the players.
“Players prefer to play in the Champions League over the Europa League but also the Europa League over nothing.
“Of course it is always a good thing. For us to have this in our hands we have to prove we have the quality to achieve that position.” MAURICIO POCHETTINO has backed Heung-min Son to step up again after claiming he should be on the Player of the Year shortlist.
Tottenham striker Son came into his own earlier in the campaign when Harry Kane was out injured and will be asked to fill the void again during the run-in.
Son will lead the attack against Huddersfield and scored his 18th goal of the season for Spurs against Manchester City in the Champions League.
His form will be a major comfort to Tottenham, after Pochettino admitted Kane’s latest ankle injury has now become a major issue.
While the Argentine coach was not arguing that Son has had a better season than
Raheem Sterling or Virgil van
Dijk, he does believe he could be among the nominations.
Pochettino (right with Son) said: “If we assess form since
November, he can be a contender. In the first few months of the competition, he was off the pace. He
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has had to travel a lot with South Korea, but after November he has been fantastic.” In fact, Son only scored his first goal of the season on October 31, but has been on fire ever since, particularly during Kane’s previous five-week absence following an injury against Manchester United in January ( far right).
After Kane’s new injury (right), against City on Tuesday, Pochettino said: “We are not going to use an excuse if we in the end don’t achieve. But the reality is missing one of your best players, of course, that is a big disadvantage.
“We are going to try to do our job. And, of course, there are different players we have in attack.
“They need to step up to do the job to ensure that we will be in the top four and can compete at City next Wednesday.”
Pochettino will make changes against Huddersfield to freshen up tired players and keep others fresh for the return leg at the Etihad.
But he said Son is fit to start and his
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role will be important with Kane missing. Pochettino also talked up Kane’s chances of being fit to lead England in the Nations League in
June, but clearly feels he will miss the rest of his club’s games.
Kane has now suffered FIVE ankle injuries in two-and-a-half years and suddenly England’s main man has become injury prone – and that is a tag which can weigh heavily on a player’s shoulders both physically and mentally.
Pochettino added: “Yes, for sure it can be an issue. When you suffer once, twice or a third time, it’s normal that you will always think about it.
“Hopefully, he can be fit for the Nations League. Of course we hope. You know that he will be so positive to get himself fit. First of all to help Tottenham and then, if that’s not possible, to help the national team.
“There are a lot of techniques to try to help that and to stop it becoming a chronic problem. We have some ideas to help him to recover as soon as possible and make his ankle strong again.”
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