Harry Kane has warned leaders Leicester City that title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur are happy to play catch up as the race for the Premier League title enters the final stretch.
For the second weekend in a row, second placed Tottenham, who host West Bromwich Albion on Monday, kick off 24 hours after Leicester, with Claudio Ranieri’s side at home to Swansea on Sunday.
But Kane said the perceived burden of having to follow Leicester is actually a bonus because it gets his team motivated.
That Kane and company have no problem dealing with the pressure of trying to overhaul Leicester was clear to see last Monday when they won 4-0 at Stoke to take advantage of the leaders’ draw with West Ham the previous day.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team are now five points behind Leicester with four matches remaining and England forward Kane is hoping this weekend’s crucial fixtures follow a similar pattern.
“Watching all the football over the weekend and having to wait until Monday night to play, gets you ready, gets you firing,” Kane said.
“With more performances like against Stoke, I’m sure we’ll push them all the way.
“All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing. We want to win all four of our games.”
More from the Premier League:
Diego Forlan column: Leicester City, Barcelona and the unique pressures of leading a title race
The National debate: Can Tottenham catch Leicester City to win the Premier League title?
Predictions: Tottenham make more ground on Leicester; Liverpool ruin Benitez's return
While Leicester will be without the suspended Jamie Vardy on Sunday after his dismissal for diving against West Ham, Tottenham have no such issues with the in-form Kane, who scored twice against Stoke to take his tally to a Premier League leading 24 goals this season.
Vardy’s ban could be extended after the England striker accepted an English Football Association charge of misconduct for his angry reaction to the red card and Kane knows that would be a huge blow for the leaders, who face Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea in their final three matches.
“Obviously Leicester have got some tough games coming up,” he said.
“They’re in the driving seat. All we can do is keep winning.”
Vardy’s replacement against Swansea is likely to be Leonardo Ulloa, who came off the bench to score the last-gasp penalty that rescued a draw against West Ham.
Ulloa has said the way Leicester avoided defeat despite the setback of Vardy’s dismissal and the shock of conceding two late goals showed their desire to finish off the most unlikely title bid of all time.
Just 12 months ago, Leicester were engaged in a battle with relegation and they started this season as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title.
“We showed great character. I love to play with this team because we all fight together until the last minute,” Ulloa said.
“I didn’t think about the pressure of the situation. After I scored I felt how important the goal was. The feeling was so good.”
Manchester City warm up for their Uefa Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid by hosting Stoke in a less glamorous but still significant encounter.
Tuesday’s clash with Madrid has the star power, but Manuel Pellegrini’s fourth placed side also need to ensure they qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish.
They are two points ahead of fifth placed Manchester United, who play in the FA Cup semi-finals against Everton on Saturday, so there is no room to be distracted by the Madrid matchup.
“Now almost everybody is back (from injury) and it gives a different feeling in the group,” City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne said.
In a fixture with significant implications at both ends of the table, Arsenal travel to Sunderland on Sunday.
Third placed Arsenal bolstered their bid for a top four place with an Alexis Sanchez-inspired win over West Brom on Thursday, but they still have little margin for error against a Sunderland side desperate for points in their fight to avoid relegation.
Sunderland are one point from safety and with fourth bottom Norwich not playing this weekend, they would climb out of the bottom three with a draw or win against Arsenal.
Liverpool, back in the hunt for a European berth after their midweek demolition of Everton, host second bottom Newcastle, who are two points from safety.
“We are all happy and hopefully we can keep this good momentum going. We still have a lot to play for,” Liverpool midfielder Lucas said.
FIXTURES (all times UAE)
Saturday
Manchester City v Stoke (3.45pm)
Aston Villa v Southampton (6pm)
Bournemouth v Chelsea (6pm)
Liverpool v Newcastle (6pm)
Sunday
Sunderland v Arsenal (4.05pm)
Leicester v Swansea (7.15pm)
Monday
Tottenham v West Brom (11pm)
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