HARRY & CO MUST GO ONE BETTER!
Pochettino says Spurs can win title and Kane can hit 30 goals
MAURICIO POCHETTINO saw Tottenham rip Hull apart and then challenged Harry Kane to hit 30 goals next season.
The Spurs boss insisted his side will be ready to mount an even stronger challenge for the title, as Kane grabbed his fifth hat-trick of the season to claim the Golden Boot.
Ruthless England striker Kane’s treble meant he topped the Premier League’s scoring chart with 29 top-flight goals.
Spurs ran riot with a brilliant display, becoming only the third team to score seven away from home in the Premier League.
Pochettino was forced to watch Chelsea celebrations on TV in the Hull press room, but he defiantly warned that his men will be back.
He said: “It is fantastic for Harry and his team-mates. So, so happy about that. He deserves it and he is one of the best in the world.”
Mission accomplished, 23-yearold Kane was subbed after his third and Pochettino added: “I prefer him to still have the challenge of 30 goals.
“It will be his challenge for next season. He can do it. He is still young and improving, and he wants to learn.
“We will see what happens next season. Our dream is to win the Premier League. We have fought well for two seasons. So why not next season?” Asked what his emotions were as Chelsea cavorted with the trophy, the Argentinian said: “No emotions. For me it is in the past. I am focused on next season and making the decisions to improve.”
Kane boosted his club total to a stunning 35 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions.
He became the first Englishman to win back-to-back Golden Boots since Michael Owen’s hat-trick of titles between 1997 and 1999.
Kane pinged in a beautiful shot from 25 yards to open the floodgates in the 11th minute.
Two minutes later a long diagonal ball from Eric Dier picked out Kieran Trippier’s run and he pulled the ball across goal for a simple Kane finish.
His third arrived on 72 minutes, dinking past David Marshall when clear. Kane now has 78 league goals for Spurs. As their fans sang, not bad for a “one-season wonder”.
Dele Alli is rarely kept out of the spotlight and he netted moments before half-time with a neat sidestep and shot.
Hull got one back through Sam Clucas on 66 minutes, but it only poked Spurs into action again.
Victor Wanyama nodded in at the back post before a rocket from outside the box from Ben Davies made it six. The seventh was a tap-in for Toby Alderweireld.
The title was another near-miss for Spurs – but progress has not been negligible. Pochettino added: “Second and 86 points. In another season, it would have been enough to win the league.
“We were so close and this is a good platform. The next few seasons are so important for us, and the fans, to win a trophy.”
But can Spurs be better than this?