STADIUM MAY NOT OPEN THIS SEASON
KANE IS SET FOR AN EARLY COMEBACK
ToTTENhaM boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted for the first time that it will be tough for them to move into their new stadium in this campaign.
The argentine has a ‘gut feeling’ White hart Lane will not be ready until next season, but his mood has been lifted by news harry Kane and dele alli are ahead of schedule in their recoveries from injury.
Tottenham’s home games against Leicester City tomorrow and arsenal next month will be at Wembley, but the venue for their remaining five Premier League home fixtures is undecided.
Pochettino wants to switch to the new ground as soon as possible. he would even take a possible last-day title decider as the opening fixture. But the fear of not moving into the £ 850million, 62,000- seat stadium until the summer is very real now.
‘My gut feeling is that it’s going to be tough, but my wish, my hope and my dream is to finish this season playing in the new stadium,’ Pochettino said.
‘We’ll see if you can trust more in my gut or the capacity to finish the stadium before the end of the season. My gut feeling, it will be tough, but i hope and i wish to be in the new stadium playing.’
Spurs are desperate to move in as soon as possible and club sources say the Premier League remain supportive of their bid to do so.
Players have stated their desire to get away from Wembley and attendances at the national stadium for Tottenham home games are declining as fans grow impatient. ‘My opinion is move, if we can play one or five games, i want to move,’ Pochettino added.
Tottenham are just five points off Manchester City and Liverpool in the title race and Pochettino believes they will peak to be at their most powerful in the coming weeks. a Tottenham win tomorrow will cut the gap to Manchester City to two points before they face Chelsea later in the day.
Kane, who suffered an ankle injury against Manchester United three weeks ago, is training and ready to return after this week’s games against Leicester and Borussia dortmund.
Pochettino added: ‘he is doing fantastic. You know very well we need to stop him every day because he wants to be ahead of his recovery. he’s nearly ready to play but we need to be realistic, too, and take the best decision. he’s so close to coming back again. Not for Sunday, not for Wednesday, but we will see after that.’
it was initially feared that Kane and alli would be out until midMarch but alli started ball-work on a trip to dubai with backroom staff this week. ‘With dele and harry coming back soon, that will give us more capacity to manage the squad and players — and that will give us the capacity to be more powerful,’ Pochettino said.
‘But for me, the most important game is this one (against Leicester) — we must win. it’s like a cup final. i know no one will agree but in my mind this game is key if we want to be there fighting until the end.
‘it is our ambition to be there until the end, to be a realistic contender.’