HOUSE OF THE RISING SONSON
No place like Wembley for striker
TOTTEnHAM seem to be timing their run to perfection. This year the rewards are not as meaningful with the title out of sight, but ensuring Champions League qualification for this upwardly mobile club is vital.
Champions League football means more revenue. Champions League means they are better placed to keep Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
no pressure then. Mauricio Pochettino would, of course, prefer his side to be going toe to toe with Manchester City at the Premier League summit. But the race for the top four, financially speaking, is just as significant.
Pochettino will be encouraged by his side’s run of one defeat in 11 games — this 4-0 demolition of Everton being their latest triumph. Spurs mounted sustained title challenges in each of the past two seasons, but both ended in disappointment.
However, Pochettino believes his side are better for those experiences. ‘Every day you learn in football. This is a different season and a different circumstance,’ said Pochettino. ‘ Everything is different, but you try to learn and relate it to the team. ‘But the team is doing well in different circumstances after we moved to Wembley this season and I’m so proud of the way we are playing.’
This victory provided further proof that Spurs will last the distance in this race. Kane scored, inevitably, taking his top-flight tally to 98 — and overtaking Teddy Sheringham to become the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
The accolades keep coming for Kane. Pochettino understands the love-in is inevitable but is adamant there is more to this team than the England striker.
‘It’s normal if Kane, Alli, Eriksen or Son get credit,’ he said. ‘It’s always the offensive players that take more credit.
‘ But there’s Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Ben Davies — they deserve credit too because against Everton we didn’t concede one shot on target. To keep your goal safe is so important. Balance is so important.
‘So we give the credit to the team because everyone deserves it because they are doing so well. It’s unfair to talk about just one player. It’s not about the names. Of course, Kane is unbelievable, Lloris is one of the best keepers in the world. It’s a collective effort — I’m so happy.
‘We need to do our job (to make the top four). We can’t compare with others — we are in different projects.
‘Tottenham can’t compare to other teams like Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea. They have their strategy and we have our strategy. All that happens in other clubs will not affect us.’
Son Heung-min’s goal against Everton was his 11th of the season. Kane’s brilliance has overshadowed the Korean’s emergence as a vital cog in Pochettino’s plans but he is more than happy to play second fiddle to his recordbreaking colleague.
‘It doesn’t frustrate me at all, we are team- mates,’ Son insisted. ‘I really enjoy Harry scoring goals as it makes my team-mates happy.
‘He beats every record and we are part of this. I am happy to help him. I am not selfish or just thinking about myself. I am really happy for Harry. I want Harry to beat every England and Premier League record. It is not just me helping Harry. We have quality players. If we get the ball and need to take care of the ball, it is not just about Harry, me or Dele.’