We Have To Test Ourselves Against The Best – Kane

Harry Kane has said he believes clinching qualification from a difficult Champions League group stage will be “a big statement” of intent.

Spurs have been there and about for the Premier League title for the past two years but underperformed in last season’s Champions League, beating only CSKA Moscow and finishing third in their group behind Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.

This year, Spurs have been drawn alongside holders Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Cypriot champions APOEL, and begin against Dortmund at Wembley on Wednesday.

He said: “We’ve got to test ourselves against the best if we want to be one of the top teams in Europe. You’ve got to see where you are, and all the lads are looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be an amazing atmosphere at Wembley [on Wednesday]. It’s really going to feel like a big Champions League night, so we’ve got to perform on the big stage.

“We have to prove it. We’re not there yet. We’ve got to learn from last year’s campaign. I think the fact we’re playing teams like Madrid and Dortmund will help us because it will be a big motivation to try to beat those teams.

“We didn’t do great last year, so if we can get through this group, it will be a big statement for the club, considering Real Madrid and Dortmund are two of the biggest teams in Europe.

“We want to have a good Champions League campaign this year.”
“I think teams are spending money and buying big players, big names, and we left it late in the transfer window to get the players we wanted,” he said.

“Now we’ve got a good, bulky squad. People might not talk about us, but that suits us. We just get on with our jobs and put in performances and then, come the business end, we’re normally there or thereabouts fighting for the title.

“All these individual records are good but the most important thing for me is to try to win club trophies — Premier Leagues, FA Cups. That’s what we’ve got to try to do.”