CHIELLINI GREETED ME WITH A DEAD LEG
But Kane hopes to bring pain to Juve
Harry Kane was just a few minutes into his full england debut when he first encountered Giorgio Chiellini. ‘My first touch,’ said Kane. ‘ He wiped me out, gave me a dead leg for about 10 minutes. I remember it well. It was kind of a welcome to international football.
‘It was a tough game and a good learning experience. I was a young player, coming through, and he is obviously a great defender, very experienced. I’m looking forward to going up against him again.’
It was 2015 and striker Kane had just exploded on to the scene at Tottenham and scored within seconds of his england debut, coming on as a substitute against Lithuania at Wembley. Four days later, in the Juventus Stadium in Turin, he led the line against Italy.
at the same venue tonight Kane carries Tottenham hopes against Juventus, Serie a champions for the last six years and Champions League runners-up in two of the last three.
It is also a renewal of acquaintances with Chiellini, the archetypal rugged and uncompromising Italian centre half who claimed not to recall the tackle which left an impression on Kane, and their duel will be a focal point of the tie.
One is england’s hottest striker with 36 goals in 37 appearances for club and country this season, and the other, the leader of a defensive unit which has not conceded a goal in 2018.
‘Italians are well known for being heart- on-the- sleeve and putting their bodies on the line,’ said Kane. ‘We know it’s going to be a tough game and I know personally it’s going to be a physical game. It’s one I’m looking forward to.
‘Chiellini is very experienced. He uses his body well and his positioning well. When you try to make runs, he knows when to step across you. He knows when to give you a little nudge to put you off balance. He knows when to come tight and when to drop off, as well.
‘experienced defenders are the most difficult because they know where to be at the right times and you’ve got to get around that.’
To help him, 24-year- old Kane will attempt to visualise the scene. ‘It’s just about being positive,’ he said. ‘It’s a big stage. It’s where I want to be playing. There will be millions of people watching.
‘I’m on good form personally and we’re in good form as a team. I will visualise myself scoring and hopefully it will come true. I know what the stadium is like. I know how big the pitch is. I know what the goals are like. I will just think positive thoughts and go into the game with a clear mind.’
Tottenham will use their wins against real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the group games to inspire ambitions to go deep into the competition. Kane, when asked if he ever visualised holding the european Cup aloft, replied: ‘Of course, which footballer hasn’t?
‘But we still have a long way to go. We’ve just got to believe and see what happens. When we are playing at our best we can beat anyone, as the group stage and these recent league games have shown. That gives us a lot of confidence.’
Tottenham arrived in Turin unbeaten in 12 games, the most recent a derby win against arsenal, which would have been more convincing but for a number of missed chances in the second half. ‘you’ve got to be more clinical,’ said Kane. ‘especially in the Champions League against the big teams. We were in the group stage this season and we’re going to have to do the same here. ‘The recent form breeds confidence. When you beat teams like Manchester United, have a good performance against Liverpool away and then beat arsenal in the way we did, we’re just looking forward to the next game. It’s probably a good thing that it’s coming so quick. ‘They’re on a great run of form as well. They’ve got some great
defenders and goalkeeper, and they’ve kept a lot of clean sheets. We’re aware of all that but we’ve got to go in with the same gameplan as against anyone. ‘We’ve played well in the Premier League recently against some top teams, so we’ve got to go there with the same mindset, the same energy and try to do the same. We’re going to try to get those away goals, take them back to Wembley and finish the job.’ Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has promised not to sacrifice his side’s natural sense of adventure against Juventus. He said: ‘We are going to be aggressive, we are going to be brave, we are going to try to win but always with massive respect to the opponent. It is an exciting moment for us. We want to enjoy it and we want to play with freedom, with clear ideas, but of course football is about being responsible.’
Meanwhile, Pochettino has told defender Toby Alderweireld he must get fitter before he can be considered for the big games.
Alderweireld returned in the FA Cup against Newport last week after three months on the sidelines but was left out against Arsenal and has not travelled to Turin.
Pochettino said: ‘In our judgment he needs to build his fitness. To play these types of tough games you need to be 200 per cent. It’s not the same as training.’