Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane 'Relieved' After Goal-Scoring Drought Ends
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane said that his goal drought was beginning to affect him off the pitch.
Harry Kane expressed relief at ending his goal drought in Tottenham Hotspur's 4-1 triumph over Manchester City, but conceded his barren spell had affected him away from the pitch. (Harry Kane Stars As Tottenham Crush Manchester City 4-1)
The England striker failed to score in his opening seven club games this season before getting off the mark with Spurs' third goal in their victory against City at White Hart Lane on Saturday. (No Excuses For Manchester City Defeat: Pellegrini)
Kane's struggles in front of goal had focused attention on the limited attacking options available to his manager, Mauricio Pochettino. (Latest Football News)
But the 22-year-old, who scored 21 goals last season, says he never lost faith in his ability and now hopes his first goal of the domestic campaign means he is back on track.
"There has been a lot of talk that I haven't scored yet," Kane said.
"I am a confident young man. I have faith in my abilities. Of course, as a striker, you want to be scoring. Any goal-scorer, when they are not scoring, they get a bit moody.
"But I stayed professional. I am doing my best for the team. It's a bigger picture than just me scoring at this club. Obviously, I am delighted to get the goal and hopefully I can build on this now."
The victory was Spurs' third successive league win and will renew belief that Pochettino's side can step up their challenge to break into the top four.
"That was always the aim at the start of the season. Of course, there is a long way to go," Kane added.
"We have so much energy and so much belief in the team. Some people write us off because we have a young team, saying that you need experience.
"A lot of us played last year. We have brought a few new faces in, who have settled in fantastically. We are really excited.
"But we cannot get too carried away. We have two tough games, in the Europa League (at Monaco) and at Swansea."
© AFP
- City's injury concerns -
Kevin De Bruyne's third goal in three games appeared to have put City in control, but Tottenham levelled on the stroke of half-time through Eric Dier, despite a clear offside against Kyle Walker in the build-up.
Toby Alderweireld headed Spurs into the lead early in the second period and Kane added a 61st-minute third, again after another generous offside call, before Erik Lamela wrapped things up.
In addition to the heaviness of the defeat, there were also injury concerns for visiting manager Manuel Pellegrini ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Borussia Moenchengladbach in Germany.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart and centre Vincent Kompany sat the game out and influential midfielder Yaya Toure hobbled off with a hamstring injury.
"I don't think Vincent Kompany will be fit (to face Gladbach)," Pellegrini said. "It's a calf problem from the Juventus game and he hasn't recovered from that.
"At the beginning he was fit to be at least on the bench, but in the warm-up he felt some things in his calf so we will see the way he develops in the next day.
"Joe had a problem with his back during the week and he could work just one day this week, so that's why I decided to leave him for this game.
"Yaya had some problems with his hamstring. We will have to wait until tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday to decide if they are 100 percent."
City had won their first five league games prior to last weekend's 2-1 home defeat by West Ham United and Pellegrini was at a loss to explain their second-half disintegration in north London.
"It's difficult to explain the second half," said the Chilean, whose side lost first place to Manchester United.
"Maybe the equaliser was important in a psychological way and the first 10 minutes (of the second half), two set-pieces decide the game. It is difficult when you are losing 2-1 to change the game."