EFL ORDERED TO APOLOGISE FOR ‘FAILURE’ TO HELP BURY
Kane has shaken off a virus and is convinced Spurs will be in healthy position to again reach the final
Kick-off 8pm
HARRY KANE is back from a bug to help cure Tottenham’s chronic travel sickness – and insists he can again lead them all the way to the Champions League final. Spurs beat the odds to come within touching distance of the trophy after taking just one point from their first three group games last season. It looks an even taller order this term for a stuttering side yet to win away in any competition, with Christian Eriksen (left) among those struggling, even though they already have four points in Group B.
But Kane has overcome the illness that kept him out of Sunday’s draw at Everton and plans to turn the tide at the Rajko Mitic stadium.
“I came down with some kind of virus, but I feel better now,” said the striker. “It’s hard to put a finger on why our form’s been disappointing. It’s the first time this group has been through a poor spell like this.
“We’ve normally started seasons well, picked up form and got better and better as
Red Star last hosted Tottenham in a European match in December 1972 in the UEFA Cup, winning 1-0 but going out 2-1 on agg. Tottenham’s 5-0 win over Red Star last time was their biggest victory in major European competition since winning 6-1 against Anorthosis Famagusta in the seasons have gone on. In this one, we’re struggling to find that form.
“We’re struggling to get wins over the line. On Sunday we were 1-0 up, trying to hold on, it could have been a big away win and we obviously conceded.
“We can’t quite get there. It’s nothing to do with the fight in the squad. It’s just one of those spells. All we can do is try and put it right.
“Obviously, the Champions League campaign last year was so good for us. We got further than a lot of people thought we would. We have
the UEFA Cup in 2007.
Red Star have never lost at home in the Champions League against an English opponent (W2 D2 L0), winning 2-0 last season against Liverpool.
Spurs’ last two Champions League matches have been won or lost by a five-goal margin (7-2 v Bayern, 5-0 v Red Star). to try to find a way of consistently winning games.
“Can we still go all the way? I think so. You look at where we started in the group stage last year and where we got to, we proved a lot of people wrong. We’re in a better position now.
“If we win this game, we’d be in a great spot to qualify and then in the knockout stage, as you saw last year, it can go anyone’s way.”
Spurs will face a hostile atmosphere at Red Star’s 49,000-capacity home, especially after beating the Serbans 5-0 in London.
They will walk out through the stadium’s intimidating concrete tunnel, which is daubed with nationalist graffiti and will be lined by armed police in full riot gear.
Liverpool suffered a shock 2-0 defeat here last season and Kane is taking nothing for granted. He added: “I’ve been told it will be a real hostile game, but that’s what European nights are about.” EFL bosses have been told to apologise to Bury and their fans for expelling them and pay compensation.
The EFL have been heavily criticised by MPs on the Digital Culture Media and Sport committee for their handling of the financial crisis at Bury before they kicked the Shakers out of League One in August.
Committee chair Damian Collins released their findings in a letter yesterday after hearing evidence from EFL executive chair Debbie Jevans, FA chairman Greg Clarke, and Premier League interim chief executive Richard Masters.
MPs on the DCMS committee claim the EFL should say sorry to Bury and their supporters (top) because they failed them.
They feel the EFL should have been stricter with controversial owner Steve Dale and that they should pay compensation for loss of earnings.
In a stinging rebuke, Collins (above) wrote: “We believe that the failure to enforce its own rules and regulations, both prior to and following Dale’s takeover of the club, contributed to the problems that ultimately led to Bury’s expulsion.
“The EFL was warned about the club’s finances and ownership and had multiple opportunities to intervene, but did not do so in an effective or timely enough way to prevent the club’s problems from escalating.
“As such, we conclude that the EFL has failed in its duty to Bury FC and its supporters.
“We recommend that the EFL formally apologises to the club’s staff and supporters and makes reparations for associated loss of earnings.”
The EFL insist they did nothing wrong and blame Dale for the club’s expulsion.
“We very much recognise the real distress felt by Bury FC supporters,” said the EFL in a statement.
“However, we stand behind the decisions taken in respect of Bury FC, which were applied in accordance with rules in place at the time.”