DON’T KILL KANE
Pochettino comes to star man’s defence
HARRY KANE has been hurt and surprised by the ridicule of some of his fellow Premier League players, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino revealed yesterday.
The England striker did not expect such a reaction to his claim he got a touch to Christian Eriksen’s cross for the winner against Stoke last Saturday.
Kane was successful in his appeal and is now on 25 goals, but Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah — his rival for the Golden Boot on 29 — is among those who have questioned the call.
The Egyptian took to Twitter after the goal was awarded to the England international to express his surprise at the decision.
‘Wooooooo really?’ he said, before Liverpool teammates Simon Mignolet, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold all got in on the act ridiculing the decision.
Pochettino said: ‘Harry is disappointed because he never wanted to create this. Tottenham fans will back Harry but other fans will kill
him. People have opinions and that is normal. Sometimes it is a small or simple thing and it becomes bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and you cannot stop it. That is what has happened. He is going to learn a lot from this.
‘He never thought that this situation was going to go on to such big things when he was so certain he touched the ball. It is normal that he is a bit disappointed because, of course, Harry Kane and all of our players have Twitter, Instagram, everything.’
The disputed goal is worth a significant sum to Kane. The striker’s £110,000-a-week deal at Spurs includes a substantial goal bonus.
His boot deal with Nike is also likely to include a Golden Boot bonus, which would see Kane earn a sevenfigure sum should he win it for a third season.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Danny Rose has been ruled out of tomorrow’s home match against Manchester City with a calf injury.