Spurs sweating on Kane’s return
WE WILL ASSESS HIM AND THEN DECIDE Martial’s winner maintains United’s 100% start at home.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes there’s still a chance of leading scorer Harry Kane playing against holders Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday
England striker Kane has scored 13 Premier League goals this season and has hit five in the European Cup against Borussia Dortmund and Apoel Nicosia.
Kane, however, missed Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday with a hamstring problem suffered against Liverpool the previous weekend, with the injury also sidelining him from Spurs’ midweek League Cup loss to West Ham.
“We will see in the next few days if he can arrive to be at the right level to play against Real Madrid,” said Pochettino. “We will need to assess him and then make a decision.”
Pochettino’s side missed the chance to go second in the Premier League ahead of United but the Tottenham manager had no time for suggestions that Saturday’s reverse was all down to being without Kane.
“You’re always going to miss your main striker and Harry Kane is definitely one of the best strikers in the world, of course,” said Pochettino.
“But that is not an excuse for today. We did not lose this game because Harry Kane was not here.”
United’s slender victory maintained the club’s 100% start to the season at Old Trafford and they have yet to concede a goal at home this campaign.
United also got back to winning ways in the Premier League following their dire 2-1 loss away to Huddersfield last weekend that left Jose Mourinho bemoaning his side’s attitude.
But he was much happier after United stretched their lead over title rivals Spurs to three points thanks to super sub Anthony Martial’s 81st-minute goal.
“I liked the performance. If the result had been 0-0 or 1-1 my feelings with the players would be the same,” said the United manager.
“They gave absolutely everything, every ball was like the most important one of their career. The focus and concentration was there against a quality team, the desire.
“I am even happier because we beat a very good team. I like the (Spurs) team very very much,” he said. – AFP