Making no summer signings has spurred us on, says Harry
HARRY KANE believes Tottenham’s failure to sign new players in the summer has had a positive, rather than negative, effect. Spurs became the first Premier League club in transfer window history to make no summer signings. But they did not sell any of their major players and Kane said: “A lot has been said about transfers or the lack of them but there is something to be said about keeping the group together.
“The gaffer said he’s not just going to bring in players for the sake of it. What that does is give the rest of the squad huge belief because it shows he has belief in us.
“Now we have to repay him and repay the club for that. That’s what happens.”
Kane said the impressive 3-0 win at Manchester United on Monday night has laid down a marker.
“In previous years we haven’t started well,” he added. “We’ve always dropped points here and there and have always had to play catch-up for the rest of the season.
“The top six are so strong you have to stay up there, you have to stay around the top all the way through. And the only way to do that is to come to places like Old Trafford and get the three points.
“This will give us huge belief and is a good statement of intent. We need to create our own history at Spurs. We’ve not been a club who have been up at the top of the league year after year like United and Chelsea.
“The only way to do that and prove everyone wrong is to be up there and keep challenging for titles. We’ve done that in the last few years but we haven’t quite got there.”
Kane was delighted after their thumping of United.
“It’s a great start for us,” he said. “We’re not getting too carried away of course, it’s only three games in, but we needed to start the season well and now it’s about maintaining that good start.”
Kane said Lucas Moura, who scored twice against United, was like a new signing.
The Brazilian winger was not match-fit and struggled to find his feet after arriving in January from Paris Saint Germain, becoming a fringe player.
He made only two league starts last season but has scored three times in the past two games and shown he can give Spurs an extra attacking dimension with his searing pace.
Kane said: “Lucas is one of those that some fans might have thought, ‘Is he going to stay, is he going to go?’ He’s stayed, he’s worked hard, he’s done well, he’s deserved his place in the team and that’s what it’s about.
“He wants to keep his place and we all do. The competition for places is high and we’ve just got to keep it going.”
If Moura, right, maintains his current form, his £25million fee will look a bargain in today’s inflated market. Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is not surprised, having kept a close eye on him at PSG. “I follow the French league and when I found out he would be a Spurs player I was very happy because I know his quality,” said Lloris, who kept his place and the captaincy after last week’s drink-driving charge. “I don’t want to talk about the prices because that is not my job. The club didn’t need my recommendation because obviously he is a Brazilian international and had played well for Paris. It wasn’t easy for him last season because he came in the middle of it, the team were already settled, but he has shown how strong he is in his head. He kept faith, kept working hard and is now being rewarded.
“He had the possibility to play in pre-season and show his skills and talent, and in the last two games he has been decisive.”
Lloris added: “There are always some key moments in the season and I think this game came at the perfect time. It was a tough week for me because of my mistake but I think the team again showed togetherness.”