DBasia.news – Tottenham Hotspur’s game strategy while under Jose Mourinho’s care was said to be the reason for Harry Kane’s poor performance. The 57-year-old coach denied the accusations and provided evidence.
Previously, Kane’s performance was highlighted when Spurs were held to a draw at Manchester United 1-1 on Friday (19/6). In that match, he failed to release a single shot on the goal.
The match was Kane’s first appearance after being injured on January 1. Even so, Kane was considered almost uninvolved in the game at all.
Former Arsenal player who became a pundit, Paul Merson, expressed his criticism, and said the Spurs’ playing style with Mourinho actually hampered Kane.
“He (Kane) played alone in front and it would be difficult for him. At the end of the fight he tried to release the bait as far as 50 meters just to get involved in the game. That’s not Harry Kane,” Merson said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“I think he will think seriously about his future at the end of the season. I don’t think he can score 25-30 goals next season under Jose’s care.”
The criticism was returned by Mourinho. He said Kane had a high goal ratio under his care before suffering a long injury.
“Harry has been absent for 6 months. The record of Harry’s goals with me is easy. You can see the data, how many games he played under my care before injury, and how many goals he made there,” Mourinho replied.
Under Mourinho, Kane scored 7 goals in 10 games before a long injury. Not only that, Mourinho also responded to Merson through a list of the attackers who have been taken care of, plus their goal record.
“I used to have a striker named (Didier) Drogba. He played four seasons for me. He scored 186 goals, meaning an average of 46 goals per season,” Mourinho stated.
Mourinho is confused between the amount of goals and the amount of Drogba’s appearances. According to records, Drogba made 73 goals in 187 matches with Mourinho. But the point is about the sharpness of the attackers under his care. Drogba’s goal record was good, as were the attackers mentioned before him.
“I’ve also had one striker, he now plays at Juventus (Cristiano Ronaldo). Three seasons with me (at Real Madrid), he scored 168 goals, with an average of 56 goals per season,” he continued.
“There was also at that time a player named (Karim) Benzema. He didn’t always start because he was young at the time, but could score 78 goals in three seasons (in Madrid), which means 26 goals per season.”
“Then there was (Diego) Milito. He played a season for me, scored 30 goals and won the treble (at Inter Milan).”
“Then there was also a striker who played for me for 1.5 seasons. I say that because the remaining half of the season he was injured. The tall player named Zlatan (Ibrahimovic). He scored 58 goals, meaning 29 goals per season,” explained The Special One.
“So, for Paul (Merson), I respect you. But I think Harry Kane has no problem regarding goals in my team. Especially when he is fit, fresh, and regularly plays,” concluded Mourinho.