LONDON – Harry Kane insisted that Tottenham Hotspur “should be winning trophies” and not settling for a Premier League top-four finish, following yet another disappointment when they crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Spurs drew 0-0 with AC Milan at home to lose their last-16 tie 1-0 on aggregate.
That followed a dismal FA Cup defeat by Championship side Sheffield United and a loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers that weakened Spurs’ grip on fourth place in the league.
The European exit all but ensured Spurs will complete a 15th season without silverware. Kane, who has not won a single trophy in his career, was adamant they need to be doing more than just challenging for the top four.
The 29-year-old striker is out of contract at the end of next season and realistically has one last chance to sign for an elite club that will offer him the opportunity to win regular titles.
Asked whether a top-four finish is enough, he said: “I don’t think so. We should be winning trophies. That’s always the aim.
“The top four (being our only target) is a consequence of not playing as well as we want to play. Now that’s all we can fight for, so that’s going to be the goal and hopefully we can achieve that come the end of the season.
“But for sure, it’s not enough.”
Spurs’ meek exit from Europe could speed up Antonio Conte’s expected departure from the club – the Italian is out of contract at the end of this season.
“All we can do as players is try to perform for him, work as hard as we can,” Kane added.
“We’re trying, but we’re just lacking something. We’ve talked about mentality and that ruthless hunger... We just haven’t quite found that yet.”
Conte was cagey over his immediate future but admitted the club could sack him.
“This is not the right day to speak about the future. But I have a contract with Tottenham until June and at the end of the season, we will meet and make a decision,” he said.
If there is one player who will be glad to see Conte leave, it will probably be Richarlison.
The forward openly criticised his manager following the Milan defeat, questioning the decision to bench him while declaring Spurs have had a “s**t” season.
“I was playing well, we won against Chelsea and West Ham and suddenly I was on the bench. I played five minutes against Wolves, asked the reason and no one told me why,” Richarlison told TNT Sports Brazil.
“On Tuesday, they asked me to take a fitness test and told me I was going to start Wednesday if I passed it – and I was on the bench. There was no explanation again.
“I’m a professional that works hard every day and I want to play.
“This season – and forgive my language – has been s**t.”
AFP, REUTERS
