Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Harry Kane should NOT be playing vs Liverpool: Tottenham boss Pochettino slammed by Hoddle
HARRY KANE should have started on the bench for Tottenham in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
That is the opinion of BT Sport pundit and Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle.
Kane was named in the Spurs starting XI for the club’s first ever appearance in a Champions League final.
It was the England captain’s first appearance since injuring his ankle in the first leg of the quarter-final win over Manchester City.
Kane declared himself fit earlier this week but Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino refused to confirm if he would pick his talisman.
I would have loved to have seen him on the bench
Hoddle interviewed Kane on Friday and, before the line ups were released, thought he would only make the bench.
And he was disappointed to see Kane’s name on the sheet, with semi-final hero Lucas Moura dropping out.
“I would have loved to have seen him on the bench,” Hoddle said.
“I think the pace of the game, pace that Liverpool play at.
“If we were playing Juventus here today then I’d think yeah Harry Kane should start.
“The pace that Liverpool play at, the way they press, the energy.
“If it’s 60 minutes gone and you’re a little bit tired and you see Harry Kane warming up and coming on, you’re thinking…
“And if the game’s still tight, there’s extra time, he’s not going to last a whole extra time.”
Like Kane, midfielder Harry Winks returned from injury to earn a starting spot for Spurs.
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino was also in the starting XI after missing the final few weeks of the season.