Harry Kane has backed Antonio Conte to succeed at Tottenham and insists his sole focus is helping the club achieve a top four finish this season
Harry Kane has insisted that he and his Tottenham teammates are happy working under Antonio Conte and has backed the Italian to get the club competing in the upper echelons of the Premier League again. Spurs have endured an indifferent run of results recently that have left them eighth in the table, six points behind fourth placed Arsenal having played a game more than their north London rivals.
Conte’s side face Brighton at the Amex on Wednesday, a game which could prove crucial for their aspirations of finishing in the top four. However, Kane believes that re-establishing the club as potential title contenders will take time, and has backed Conte to get Spurs back to the heady heights they previously enjoyed under former boss Mauricio Pochettino.
“Obviously I still feel like we’re in a process,” he told Sky Sports. “We went two or three years challenging for trophies then we dropped off over the last couple of years. With Antonio, he’s building a culture that he wants to be and wants to put us back in that place.
“The Premier League, it’s such fine lines between challenging or being top four or being sixth, seventh or eighth. Every team is getting better and there are no easy games.
“Of course the manager is working as hard as he can and the players are working. It’s not a quick fix that happens overnight, it takes time and understanding. He needs to talk to the club and chairman and to see what direction we need to go as a club. We can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Kane was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City last summer, but despite the intense speculation the 28-year-old remained with Spurs. Many blamed Kane’s slow start to the season as a hangover from not securing a move to the Etihad, however the England captain has returned to form with 10 goals in his last 13 Premier League games.
Should Spurs miss out on a seat at European football’s top table rumours linking Kane with a move away from north London are bound to resurface. However, he insists that his sole focus is helping the club achieve a first top four finish since the 2018/19 season.
“I’m the first to look at my own standards,” Kane added. “In the Premier League, towards the first few months or so I wasn’t at the standard that I was always reaching.
“It was no time to panic or sulk, it was a time to work hard and since Antonio’s come in, we’ve had a good understanding with each other. As a player, if you’re improving under a coach, that’s the most important thing.
“It’s when you’re there and not sure where you’re going and where the club’s going and that’s the hardest part as a player. I definitely feel like I’m improving and the team is with Antonio. That motivates you to be even better. Hopefully we can end the season and give the top four a real go.
“Obviously it’s always an aim to get in the Champions League, for the club. Personally, you want to be in the best competitions in the world. My focus is on this year, getting top four is the most important goal for us now.
“There are 11 games left and if we can get on a run, this is more than possible. That’s all I can control and that’s all the manager can control as well. Let’s see where we end up.”
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