Skip to content
Exclusive

Harry Kane: Tottenham must 'take advantage' of Antonio Conte and work to return to 'highest level'

Harry Kane says Antonio Conte is "one of the best in the world" in exclusive Sky Sports interview; striker says "I just want to be playing at the highest level" when asked about his future; watch Chelsea vs Spurs on Sunday, live on Sky Sports from 4pm; kick-off 4:30pm

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tottenham striker Harry Kane says the club has to make the most of having 'one of the best managers in the world' in Antonio Conte

Harry Kane has issued a rallying cry to his Tottenham team-mates to "take advantage" of playing under Antonio Conte and work to return the club to the "highest level".

Spurs finished in the top four for four successive seasons between 2016 and 2019 under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, but have recorded sixth and seventh-place finishes in the Premier League since the Argentinian was sacked in November 2019.

The north London side have also dispensed with the services of Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo since then as they attempt to repeat the success of their time under Pochettino, who led them to the Champions League final just months before his departure.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said that he liked to live in the present when asked about his future at the club and provided no guarantees longer term

But while Kane admits Spurs have "taken a dip" over the last few seasons, he is confident Conte - a Premier League and FA Cup winner with Chelsea - is the person to improve their fortunes, as long as the players meet his demands.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, the England captain said: "He's one of the best managers in the world.

"We've not really reached the heights we've wanted to as a club over the last couple of years. It's a big opportunity now to take advantage of what we've got.

Live Renault Super Sunday

"He's a manager that demands a lot. He's doing everything he can and as players we've responded really well to him and everyone's working as hard as possible to get success. That's the ultimate goal for everyone here at the club."

Also See:

Since Spurs reached their first Champions League final in 2019, Christian Eriksen, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela - all important players during Pochettino's reign - have left the club.

Notable player departures since summer 2019

  • Kieran Trippier - Atletico Madrid, £21.7m (July 2019)
  • Christian Eriksen - Inter Milan, £16.9m (January 2020)
  • Jan Vertonghen - Benfica, free (August 2020)
  • Danny Rose - Watford, free (June 2021)
  • Erik Lamela - Sevilla, part exchange (July 2021)
  • Toby Alderweireld - Al Duhail, undisclosed (July 2021)
  • Moussa Sissoko - Watford, £2.5m (August 2021)
  • Serge Aurier - released (August 2021)

"Players come and go and sometimes it disrupts the team a little bit. Coaches come and go and it takes time to adapt," said Kane.

"The fact is, in the Premier League especially, so many teams are so good and everyone's building to try and break into that top six. There's a good eight or nine teams who are fighting for those places.

"If you don't get one or two things right then you can really fall behind the pack and that's kind of happened to us. So we need to be careful that we don't keep falling.

I just want to be playing at the highest level possible. I'm not going to go into loads of detail about anything else going on.
Harry Kane

"We're feeling confident that we can do that, especially since the manager's come in."

While Kane is optimistic for the future under Conte, the Italian has not held back in his assessment of the squad he inherited in November, and has publicly expressed his desire to "rebuild" a team that he has described as being in the "middle".

But instead of railing at his head coach's harsh words, Kane - who revealed his own wish to leave the club last summer - welcomed them, saying: "You need to be honest with yourself. As a club, we've not achieved what we've wanted to over the last couple of years for sure.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Jermain Defoe says Antonio Conte will be looking for players who can slot straight into the team and improve Tottenham quickly

"We've taken a dip in terms of where we were three or four years ago. It's important that you do realise that - that is the truth.

"We need to respond, and as players it's our responsibility to try to show the manager that we're capable of taking this team back to the highest level."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Jermain Defoe was very excited by Antonio Conte joining his former club and believes he can make a real difference at Tottenham

The 28-year-old wanted to leave to boost his chances of winning silverware and Premier League champions Manchester City were keen to sign him, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to sanction the sale of his star striker, who has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.

Asked if Conte's arrival and the sense that he is moving the club in the right direction was making him feel more content, Kane said: "I just want to be playing at the highest level possible.

"My focus is fully on this season and trying to get as high up the league as possible. We're still in the FA Cup and we're trying to win a trophy.

"I'm not going to go into loads of detail about anything else going on. It's just about working hard for the team and trying to improve."

Follow Tottenham Hotspur with Sky Sports

Follow every Tottenham game in the Premier League this season with our live blogs on the Sky Sports website and app, and watch match highlights for free shortly after full-time.

Want the Tottenham latest? Bookmark our Tottenham news page, check out Tottenham's fixtures and Tottenham's latest results, watch Tottenham goals and video, keep track of the Premier League table and see which Tottenham games are coming up live on Sky Sports.

Get all this and more - including notifications sent straight to your phone - by downloading the Sky Sports Scores app and setting Tottenham as your favourite team.

Hear the best Premier League reaction and expert analysis with the Essential Football and Gary Neville podcasts, keep up-to-date with our dedicated Transfer Centre, follow the Sky Sports social accounts on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and find out how to get Sky Sports.

Win £250,000 with Super 6!
Win £250,000 with Super 6!

Another Saturday, another chance to win £250,000 with Super 6. Play for free, entries by 3pm.

Exclusive

Around Sky