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Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle has urged Mauricio Pochettino to leave Harry Kane on the bench in the Champions League final on Saturday, per TalkSport.
What’s he said?
Kane, of course, has declared himself fit ahead of Saturday’s clash with Liverpool, which is perhaps the biggest game in the club’s history.
He injured his ankle ligaments in the first leg of the quarter-final against Manchester City and has missed almost two months of football.
As such, debate has raged as to whether or not he should be included in the starting XI for the final.
Lucas Moura, after all, scored a fantastic hat-trick in the club’s miraculous comeback in Amsterdam against Ajax. His third goal came in the final minute of injury time to send Spurs into the final.
However, if Kane is picked, the Brazil international is likely to drop out of the team.
And Hoddle believes that the England captain will struggle to adapt to the pace of the game after such a lengthy period on the sidelines.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted that he’s fit, but I definitely wouldn’t start him.
“I think what a sight it would be for the Spurs fans and his team-mates if he’s there with half-an-hour to go and the game is hanging on an inch or is heading into extra-time.
“What a sight to see him come on with Lucas Moura and Heung-min Son if goals are needed and what a sight if they are hanging onto the game because he can hold the ball up.
“The tempo of the game is going to be absolutely incredible at the beginning of the game, Liverpool like to press and play that high tempo, I don’t think he’ll be ready for that sort of pace.”
He added: “A 100 per cent fit Harry Kane starts, there’s no doubt about it, but at this moment in time I think he’ll be on the bench.”
He has to play some part
Hoddle makes a learned point instead of merely crying ‘he isn’t fit, he can’t play’.
Pochettino has a major decision to make, such has been the star’s form throughout the season.
Kane has scored 24 goals in all competitions and is perhaps the greatest striker in the club’s history; it is almost unthinkable to leave him on the bench.
The fact of the matter is that, as Hoddle says, he should start if he is fully fit.
But if Pochettino has any doubts, leaving him on the bench with the possibility of bringing him on in the last 30 minutes makes a lot of sense.
The Argentine, though, must be aware that this could become one of football’s great ‘what if’s’ if Kane is left out and Spurs lose in Madrid.
