‘WE CAN’T RISK MORE SLIP-UPS IN TOP-FOUR BID’
» KANE SAYS SPURS MUST WIN FINAL FIVE GAMES TO BOOK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE AFTER DRAWING BLANK AGAIN
HARRY KANE has warned Tottenham cannot afford any more slip-ups after handing back momentum to Arsenal in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
Faltering Spurs dropped below Arsenal into fifth place as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Brentford after the Gunners had beaten Manchester United 3-1 earlier on Saturday.
Antonio Conte’s side have not mustered a single shot on target across 180 minutes against Brighton and Brentford, and Kane believes they have left themselves having to win their final five games to finish fourth.
Arsenal are in the driving seat, but the north London derby on May 12 looks like it will be pivotal in deciding who qualifies for the Champions League.
Kane told Standard Sport: “To only get one point from those two games [Brighton and Brentford] is disappointing. We are running out of games in terms of dropping points.
“There are five games left and we feel like we are pretty much going to have to win all of them to get that spot. We are capable of doing that and that is what we will try to do.”
On the evidence of their toothless display against Brentford, Spurs fans are right to be worried that their team are letting their top-four hopes slip from their grasp.
Before they host Arsenal next month, Tottenham are at home against Leicester on Sunday and then face title-chasing Liverpool at Anfield. Arsenal are at injury-hit West Ham on Sunday before hosting Leeds next weekend.
“Is it still in our hands? Yeah,” said Kane (below, after missing a chance on Saturday).
“If we win the last five games we will be in the Champions League, so that is how we’ve got to look at it. We know those five games will be difficult, we go to Liverpool as well, which will be very tough.
“As we have seen this season, we have dropped points against teams where we were probably expected to win and so have the others around us. It is by all means not done yet.
“We’ve done great to put ourselves in this position we’re in now but it is about who can finish it off.
“We have to stay focused and keep working hard. We have a little gap now to prepare and work and hopefully we can put in a good display against Leicester.”
Arsenal’s wins over Chelsea and Manchester United had turned up the pressure on Tottenham, who failed to respond. But an upbeat Conte said: “We have to continue to improve because it is not enough if we want to stay in this race.
“For sure, in November you cannot imagine to receive this question. Now we are in the race and we have to stay. We know it is very difficult.”
Former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen excelled for Brentford and was given a rapturous reception by Spurs fans. He said: “I’m still a Spurs fan, so I hope they get in the Champions League.”
Tottenham defender Eric Dier said: “It is emotional to play against him. It is strange to play against him. I have spent most of my career playing with him. I never imagined playing against him like this. “I do not care if he is playing against us , I am just happy that he’s healthy.’