Poch: don’t kill the killer

IN THIS COUNTRY YOU BUILD STARS UP & THEN KNOCK THEM DOWN.. IF HARRY WAS ITALIAN HE’D BE PROTECTED SAYS BOSS

MAURICIO POCHETTINO believes English football does not fully appreciate “killer” Harry Kane.

The Spurs boss fears this country is all too willing to build its stars up, only to knock them down. And he reckons that his striker, who he describes as an “assassin”, would be far more celebrated if he were Italian or Spanish. Pochettino said: “In England you have some very good things, but there are things you need to improve with your own players.

“Kane is English and sometimes you push him to the sky and paradise and then you put him on the outside. Now, after six years here, I understand a little bit. It is true. If Harry Kane was Italian and playing for the Italian side he would be a bit more protected because the Italian people are more protective of their players.

“It is difficult to push, but when they are at the top they try to keep them up there.

“It’s similar to Spain. Here it is more up and down. You score, you are the best. If you don’t score, no – you are criticised. It’s an observation. That is the problem.”

The Tottenham chief’s comments came after England boss Gareth Southgate voiced his concern at the “strange country” which has criticised plans to salute

Wayne Rooney.

Asked if Kane

(right) is now exceeding even his expectations, Pochettino (below) added: “No, The England captain has more because I know him very well. than justified his world-class He is a killer, an assassin, a killer. credentials, with Pochettino “He always in practice, in insistent that his comparison everything, he wants to kill last season with legendary the keeper, everything. marksman Gabriel He wants to score, he Batistuta has been is so determined to more than justified. score goals.” Batistuta was Kane spearheads Argentina’s all-time the Spurs attack today, leading scorer with 54 four days after saving his goals in 77 matches. A club’s Champions record he held until two League life against PSV years ago, when he was Eindhoven at Wembley. surpassed by Lionel Messi.

It is a rescue act that His 10 goals in three World Tottenham fans are all too Cups made him Argentina’s familiar with. Last term, at all-time top scorer in the Crystal Palace, competition.

Kane also had Pochettino said: “I compared supporters Kane as his mentality is similar breathing a to Batistuta. But maybe Kane is sigh of going to improve on his stats. relief with “But for me Kane can be or is an 88thminute – depending on the people around him – of a similar winner, mentality to Batistuta. the only “I know Batistuta very well. He goal of was my team-mate. And I know the Kane. They are of a similar mind game. and focus and determination.”