Mauricio Pochettino says Kane is at the “same level” as blue moonraker Sergio Aguero - and the England striker is flattered by the compliment
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According to his Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, England striker Kane is at the “same level” as Manchester City’s blue moonraker Aguero.
And when Spurs visit the Etihad in the duel to decide who finishes as runners-up to champions Leicester, which is evidently a foregone conclusion, Kane will have the perfect stage to prove Pochettino was right.
More often than not in the past six years, Tottenham’s excursions to Eastlands have defined their season.
In 2010, Peter Crouch’s late goal clinched Champions League qualification at City’s expense and David
Bentley celebrated by throwing a bucket of water over his manager Harry Redknapp – one of the great own goals.
Now Tottenham are second, their highest position in the table at this stage of the season since 1985, Kane fancies their chances next Sunday after full-back Kieran Trippier’s first goal for Spurs was enough to see off Watford.
“We have some tough away games coming up, but we don’t fear anyone. We’re happy to go up to Manchester City and play our football because we’re excited by the challenge.
“And we know we can beat anyone in the League – and that’s the attitude we have to keep.
“City will want to put things right but we’re on a great run and we’re just looking forward to playing every week.”
If Spurs, who tonked City 4-1 at White Hart Lane in September, are serious about winning the title for the first time since black-and-white Pathe newsreels, they will need Kane to live up to the manager’s flattering hype comparing him with Aguero.
And if they fall short this year, Spurs must hang on to Pochettino in the summer.
Kane said: “The gaffer is a great manager who has been good for everyone at the club.
“He has changed our philosophy and everyone is striving for greatness.
“To hear compliments like that from the manager is great, but it doesn’t affect me – I know what I’m capable of and what I can achieve.
Paul Gilham
“The time to worry is when nobody is looking at you. He’s a top manager, a top-class man as well and it is all positive at the moment, but we are not getting too carried away.
“There hasn’t really been a lot of talk about the title because the games have been coming so thick and fast.
“But we are still in three competitions where we are trying to achieve good things.”
Trippier’s winner underlined the Tottenham’s embarrassment of riches at full-back after Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were left on the bench.
Pochettino, trying to keep the lid on excitable title talk, said: “From the beginning we have believed our squad is very strong and this was a very good example.
“When you play for the title, to feel pressure is a happy thing.
"When you are facing relegation, it is harder to play and the way we have improved our mentality this season, through a habit of winning, is fantastic.”
Watford, timid and tepid, barely got out of their own half and would have suffered a much heavier defeat without the agility and reflexes of Heurelho Gomes on his return to White Hart Lane.
The former Spurs keeper said: “Tottenham showed why they are second in the table and we did well to hold out for so long. They have young players with a lot of energy and I believe they played their best game against us.
“Of course it was special for me to come back here and the reception from the fans was amazing, but I never came here with a point to prove to anyone.
“Last week I thought Chelsea were as good as any team we have faced this season – they are in good shape at the moment – but Tottenham showed why they are doing so well.”
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