ZINEDINE ZIDANE HAS branded Harry Kane the “complete forward” ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Tottenham tomorrow — but he was also quick to insist that the striker is not their only weapon.
Kane has been in lethal form so far this season, scoring 15 goals for club and country including five in the Champions League, and he will undoubtedly be eager to inspire the downfall of Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
The England international’s development into a world-class striker was seemingly evidenced by his nomination for the Ballon d’Or, with Kane impressing throughout 2017.
He has been so good that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola even referred to Spurs as “the Harry Kane team” recently, a trap Zidane opted to sidestep. But the Frenchman’s praise of the 24-year-old is unlikely to see reports of Madrid’s interest in him quieten down.
“I don’t know about the future, but at the moment he is very important for Spurs,” Zidane told reporters at his pre-match media conference.
“He’s very good at everything and what he does, he does playing towards goal. He’s always looking for spaces and that’s good.
“He is a complete forward. He perhaps doesn’t look like it sometimes, but he is.
“Kane is playing well, but Tottenham isn’t just Kane and I’m sure they’ll prepare their game well.”
Zidane’s compatriot Hugo Lloris will be the man charged with keeping Madrid at bay on Tuesday and the former midfielder believes he could play a key role.
“He [Lloris] will do everything he can to stop us winning,” Zidane said. “He has improved a lot as a keeper and I think he’ll have an important role in this game.
“But I will look more at us, and we want to cause difficulty to him. But it’s not about one forward or one keeper.
“It’s [Tottenham] a very complete side, continually improving year after year. We know the coach has done a lot for them, they have a lot of resources to them at the moment and I’m sure it’ll be a good game.”
Zidane was also asked about the comparison between the Premier League and La Liga, claiming that football is rather more physical in England, but better in Spain.
“Everyone has their own opinion,” he said. “I always dreamt about playing in the Spanish league. I love La Liga — you play with the ball a lot.
“It’s a different type of football. The Premier League is more physical and when a team is physically very strong it has more chance of winning in that league.
“I think Spanish football is best. We want to go out and prove La Liga is the best.”
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The organisers have ruined this competition. I’m delighted a French team have been given the same treatment as Leinster but it still doesn’t make it right.
Happy for Connacht though.
@Clark: what would you do though? Or what exactly can be done, considering the pandemic
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: play the feckin tie with players that have tested negative today. Same as should have been done with Leinster, we had a negative match day ready to go. These outbreaks will come and go, those players that are vaccinated and also negative on the day should be allowed play on.
You mean Testdemic.
@Clark: Agrred. These 28 :0 wins were never any good in situations where no one is at fault. Whoever came up with that should be fired on the spot! 1D10TS
@Andrew Taz Donohoe: think the point is, some games 28-0 and others 0-0.. how can that be‽?
@Eoin Roche: where you saying the same when Toulon had a match day 23 all test negative, yet the game was awarded to Leinster?
@Karl Mc Cauley: Thats easy, some games were cancalled due to covid outbreaks (which EPRC legistrates for) and awarded 28-0, and some were cancelled due to travel restrictions (which isnt legislatiled for) so were given as draws.
I didn’t see LNR say anything about it being a scandalous decision when Montpellier were handed a 28-0 win against Leinster
Well deserved, a justification for the brand of rugby they promote.
It’s a total anticlimax of a way for us to make the knockouts, but reaching the knockouts this year, is not near the same as reaching it when there’s only 8 teams, and there’s been a fair and equal group stage. However it’s still great to make it to the last 16, the aim now has to be to make sure we can put our best foot forward, and target further progression in the competition. Have to say I always liked Toulouse, but it’s totally hilarious to see the reaction from both Toulouse and the LNR. One thing to note is how the URC never came in to back Scarlets, Ospreys or Leinster when they got shafted.
@Patrick Breen: good point re the URC… And regarding getting through, its a topsy turvy year, take what you can get, and I bet there will be a great buzz in Connacht now going into this last game regardless.
@SPQH: enjoy it. Get to a semi snd earn the buzz
There’ll be no easy games in the last 16 but I’d like to avoid Racing and Leinster, Exeter and Le Rochelle also if I’m making wish-list
@mike ryan: I think they will be hoping to avoid us as well. A good win tomorrow should give us a home draw, which means we should avoid the likes of the teams you’re talking about.
@Donal McCarthy: actually, just had another look at the table, we need Scarlets to beat Bristol for that to happen. Unlikely
Castres will regret no going full guns last week, but then again they didn’t seem to be too bothered
@Scott Crossfield: I don’t think they give a daam, they’ve always been a bit of a disappointment in Europe, a bit like Montpellier.
@Scott Crossfield: if castres and wasps win toulouse go out.
@Scott Crossfield: Castes have been absolutley ridden by the Mike Addission and his team. The officals have a lot to answer for forward passes by quinns sealing off penalties not given. The last 20 miniutes of reffing was a disgrace
I had my doubts about this years H Cup when I first saw the format. But now………….. meh.
Leicester given a walkover too.
All done in trying to justify the unfair treatment of Leinster. 2 wrongs don’t make a right
More 28 nil BS.