Harry Kane in 2018: “My dream wasn’t to play in the Premier League. My dream was to play in the Premier League for Spurs.
So I told [André Villas-Boas], quite honestly, “I don’t want to go [on leave].”
As the words were coming out of my mouth, I thought, Oh, wow — maybe that wasn’t.…
He just kind of looked at me, a bit confused.
And then I just came straight out with it. I said, “I’m gonna prove to you that I should be starting on this team. And you can tell me every Friday before the game that I don’t deserve that, and that I’m not going to play. And that’s fine. But I don’t want to go.”
And that was that. He let me stay on and train with the first team — and it really ended up being the turning point in my confidence. I had always felt like I had the ability, but I kind of had to stand up for myself. It was like I could see my childhood dream, and it was right there in front of me … but it was just out of reach. I was waiting for somebody to hand it to me. But life never hands it to you, does it?
You’ve gotta grab it.
I was on fire in training, but I still couldn’t get a game. Then the manager was let go in the winter and Tim Sherwood took charge — and he gave me my chance. The rest, as people might say, is history. I scored three goals in my first three starts, and that was an incredible feeling, especially the first time scoring at White Hart Lane. But honestly, all the things I went through before I scored Goal Number 1 … that’s what made me who I am….
For me, the rejection is the best thing that ever happened to me. When I was lacing my up boots for my first start in the North London derby back in 2015, I had a flashback to when I was 11, playing against Arsenal’s youth team. It was like déjà vu. Before every match, I always visualize scenarios in my head of exactly how I’ll score in the match. Left-foot curler into the bottom corner. Right-foot volley from the right corner of the box. I’ve always been that way. I get really detailed about it — I’ll picture my opponents and the cut of the grass and everything.
This time, I was picturing the defenders wearing the red Arsenal kit, and I got goosebumps.
We were in the tunnel, and I thought, “O.K. Took me 12 years. But we’ll see who was right and who was wrong.”
I scored two that day, and the winner in the 86th minute was something that I’d never even dream of visualizing before a match. It was a header — probably the best header I’ve ever scored — and that feeling when it hit the back of the net … I’ve never felt a rush like that in my whole career.
I remember walking round the pitch after the final whistle … and clapping to the fans … and it felt like, Well — I told you so.” https://t.co/AIJvVbtojF
@HKane | @England
@VFTLpodcast@dannykellywords In the 2014/15 season Villa ended their league campaign without a win in 8 (7 losses, 1 draw) and survived by 3 points. With it being very difficult to imagine Spurs winning games currently, is there a world where they can stay up without winning a game?
@AlasdairGold@DiMarzio Looks like Paratici got his man in the end. What does that say about Lange’s influence? Hopefully we see the back of him soon enough too!
@pokeefe1@TonySpurano If Kane is sold Spurs will lose any chance of revenue from potential champs league qualification next season, they won’t be able to hire a top manager this summer if they learn he’s leaving and fans will revolt. Levy may as well roll the dice on this one.
@kanefromthelane if he committed to the club long term, the fans would show more patience. It is extremely difficult to show patience when there is so much uncertainty. Conte, years of being close but not close enough and the potential end of Spurs with Kane is exasperating any idea of patience.
Spurs are currently in the top four of the Premier League, but their fans have been unimpressed with their style of play. Does it matter how entertaining Conte's side is to watch if they get results?
🗣 @jj_bull
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