Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Harry Kane was “very disappointed” with his World Cup, despite becoming only the second Englishman to win the Golden Boot.
Kane scored six times in Russia, but three of his goals came from the penalty spot. Towards the end of the tournament Kane looked as if he was carrying an injury.
Pochettino believes that Kane’s attitude to his World Cup success demonstrates his desire to become a better player and be even more successful. And he bloody loves it.
“Harry’s very disappointed about his World Cup,” Pochettino said.
“He won the Golden Boot but when he arrived Sunday back to London, on Tuesday he was at the training ground spending five hours with myself and Jesus [Perez].
“I congratulated him and he said, ‘No gaffer. I am really disappointed, I should have scored more goals!’.
“I said, ‘But you won the Golden Boot.’ He said, ‘Yes but gaffer, I’m disappointed.’ Scoring six goals and reaching the semi-finals was not enough.
“I love, love, love this energy and desire – that it’s not enough to be fourth in the World Cup or second or third in the Premier League.
“I love it when a player thinks like this and wants to come in and spend time with us after the World Cup, when all the people praise him and he’s a big star, but Tuesday he was there sharing time with us. That is so very Harry.”
Pochettino insisted he shares Kane’s desire to win trophies but he described the club as “competing in the same race but with a different car” to their big-spending Premier League rivals, and suggested their £850million new stadium has left the club further adrift financially.
However, the Argentinian, who has been linked to Real Madrid in the past, said he was committed to the club for as long as he is wanted by chairman Daniel Levy.
“If some people believe the manager of Tottenham doesn’t want trophies they are not right in their minds. I am here to win,” Pochettino said. “[But] to win and to have the tools to win – that is different.
“Of course, it is a massive success at the club to be in the Champions League for the third year in a row. But, for me, it is not enough. I want to challenge and fight until the end, or until that moment when my chairman Daniel Levy says to me, ‘Mauricio, go home or find another project.’
“I feel responsible for this after four years with the club to try to achieve what the fans want. Maybe our history and the reality is different, but the players are fighting and working so hard and we are there.
“To compete at that level and challenge the big sides that are only focused on improving their teams, while the reality for us has been improving our facilities – building the training ground and new stadium – I think it is not fair to compare us with these kinds of clubs that are only focused on improving their squads.
“[To win a trophy] will be tough because our opponents are at a level where every year they improve. For us it’s always about keep pushing with different energy and different tools. Everything is different.
“We are competing in the same race but with a different car.”
Kane returned to Spurs training on Monday along with World Cup winning captain Hugo Lloris and the club’s seven other losing semi-finalists from England and Belgium – five days before Saturday’s Premier League curtain-raiser at Newcastle.
Pochettino has said he will not take risks with his stars’ fitness at St. James’ Park, while Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks and Josh Onomah are all expected to miss out through injury.