Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Spurs need to find a way to win away, says Kane
TOTTENHAM Hotspur need to start beating the Premier League’s top teams away from home if they are to mount a serious title challenge this campaign, striker Harry Kane said ahead of today’s trip to Arsenal.
Despite their progress under manager Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham have won just once in 16 away league games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal under the Argentine, a 2-1 triumph over City in 2016.
Tottenham beat United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal at home last season, and drew with Liverpool, but their away record against the same opposition was underwhelming and Kane has urged his team to avoid a repeat of those results.
“It’s important for us to start beating the big teams away. Not just Arsenal, but all of the top six,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve done very well at home against them in recent years, but if we want to be challenging for the title, these are the games we need to win away from home.
“We’re going to try and win the game, we always do, but it will be tough. We need to go and play the way we play against them at home, and find a way to win.”
Tottenham, who are third in the table, suffered their most recent away defeat against a top six side at second-placed United last month but both teams headed into the international break level on 23 points, eight points behind leaders City.
Spurs midfielder Eric Dier and playmaker Christian Eriksen captained England and Denmark respectively during the break and Pochettino believes that players developing their leadership skills will benefit the club in high-pressure games.
“That is so important for us. We need to create leaders, not followers, and it’s so important for them to feel that experience, to manage, be leaders and to be responsible,” Pochettino told the club’s website.
“The players are still young but they need to start to feel what it means to be a leader.”
Meanwhile, Pochettino has described Arsene Wenger as a “special manager” and one of the greatest innovators in English football.
Argentine Pochettino is unbeaten in six Premier League meetings with Wenger’s Arsenal since arriving from Southampton in 2014, and last season Tottenham finished above Arsenal in the league for the first time in 22 years.
“In football history he’s one of the great managers, the same level as (former Manchester United manager Alex) Ferguson,” Pochettino said.
“He will always be a special manager. To keep motivation more than three years is difficult. Five years, you must be very good, very good if you’re 10 years. When you talk about 20 years it’s amazing.
“Everyone who talks about him needs to show respect. Some days you’re good, some days not so good. But show respect.”
Pochettino is yet to win a trophy for Tottenham, whereas Wenger has three Premier League titles, the most recent in 2004, and seven FA Cups with Arsenal, although they missed out on this season’s Champions League.
Pochettino said Wenger was one of the managers he admired when he was making his way into coaching at Espanyol.
“Wenger was an innovator, ahead of everyone, like Ferguson,” said Pochettino, who has masterminded Tottenham to third- and second- placed finishes in the last two seasons.
“That’s why my respect and admiration is high.” ● Champions Chelsea face a stiff challenge to defend their Premier League title from in- form leaders Manchester City but will fight till the end in the race, midfielder Willian has said.
City have won 10 of their opening 11 league games and sit at the top of the table, nine points ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea.
“It’s difficult,” Willian told BBC’s Football Focus.
“Manchester City are playing very well but I think we can fight for the title until the end.”
Manchester United and Tottenham are second and third respectively, a point ahead of Antonio Conte’s men.
“It is difficult to play when you were champion last season and to fight for the title again as every team wants to win against Chelsea,” added the Brazil international.
Chelsea travel to West Bromwich Albion, who are 16th in the league standings, today.