This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
June 22, 2020 - Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has come to the defense of his tactics after criticism that his style could see Harry Kane leave the club. Mourinho pointed to his impressive track record of getting the best from top strikers, including Didier Drogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.
Harry Kane played his first game in six months for Tottenham in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Friday, but failed to get a single touch in the opposition box. This has led to speculation that Kane may be looking for a new challenge, with former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson saying he 'worried' for Kane under Mourinho.
Mourinho addressed Merson's concerns directly, citing statistics that show the scoring rates of top strikers under his management. He pointed out that Kane scored seven goals in 10 games following his appointment as Tottenham manager before injuring his hamstring on New Year's Day.
“Harry Kane has no problems at all to score goals in my team,” said Mourinho. “Especially when he is fit, when is fresh, when he has routines of playing that’s my message to somebody.”
Mourinho was also criticized for leaving a visibly tiring Kane on the field for the full 90 minutes last week. However, he explained that he had limited options from the bench due to injuries and suspensions.
With Dele Alli and Lucas Moura now available for selection, Mourinho is looking forward to having six attacking players to choose from for the first time as Tottenham boss.
