Harry Kane is struggling to justify Tottenham’s hugely disappointing Champions League campaign.
The striker can’t be blamed for the club’s early exit as he was injured for so much of the group stages, but collectively, Spurs know they should have done much, much better after being handed a relatively easy draw.
That’s not to say there’s no hope of more European football this season, though, as if Mauricio Pochettino’s side avoid defeat against CSKA Moscow at Wembley tonight, they’ll move into the last-32 of the Europa League.
Whether that’s actually a good thing is, of course, still up for debate, as the competition can be a huge distraction and only adds congestion to the fixture calendar.
Yet, Kane evidently still has one eye on silverware and insists Spurs need to make the most of it if they do qualify.
“It’s been a frustrating campaign in the Champions League, but we know we need to go out and win on Wednesday night,” the 23-year-old told the club’s official website.
“We have to finish the group with a bit of pride, qualify for the Europa League and then try to win it because that’s what football is all about, winning trophies.
“We also want to give the supporters something to cheer about. They’ve been incredible in our last two matches at Wembley, setting attendance records both times but we’ve not been able to repay that by giving them something to celebrate.
“That hurts us as players, so it’s important we send them home happy with a victory this time.”
In what will be manager Leonid Slutsky’s final game in charge of the Russians, they’ll surely be hoping for a similar outcome.
Last season, Pochettino was accused of failing to take the Europa League seriously, fielding a weakened side against Borussia Dortmund and inevitably watching his players crash out.
With the Lilywhites already out of the EFL Cup, though, the Europa League could be one of their last hopes of silverware, even if they have to overcome their Wembley curse to go all the way.
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