'Positive situation' for Harry Kane to feature in Uefa Champions League final

Mauricio Pochettino pleased with England forward's recovery from injury ahead of Madrid showdown with Liverpool on June 1

TOPSHOT - Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane (C) receives medical treatment before leaving the pitch injured during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, on April 9, 2019. / AFP / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON
Powered by automated translation

Mauricio Pochettino has given Tottenham Hotspur fans hope Harry Kane may feature in the Uefa Champions League final as he described "a very positive situation" for the England striker.

Kane has not played since injuring his ankle in the quarter-finals against Manchester City in April but Pochettino said his fitness was improving with an eye to featuring in Saturday's clash in Madrid with fellow Premier League side Liverpool.

The England captain has returned to full training with the rest of the players, and Pochettino said: "Harry Kane, in the last week, Friday and Saturday, started to be involved in the group.

"It's a very positive situation for him. We will wait and see how he is progressing in his problem."

Pochettino was also positive that Harry Winks, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez would be fit for the game.

He added: "The four players started (training) on Friday and Saturday to be involved in the group, which is very positive to be available at the weekend and that is very good news for us.

"Tottenham deserve that we are all 100 per cent focused on the game.

"We can make history, we can provide our fans the best happiness in football."

Pochettino is currently enjoying his best spell in charge since taking up the position in May 2014.

Since then, the club's new stadium has been completed, they finished in the top four in the Premier League and then reached the Champions League success with dramatic wins over Manchester City and Ajax.

He said: "I think this is my best period after five years. Today is five years of working here, I was signing a contract here, it is an amazing period.

"We have worked so hard the last three weeks, but we are excited."

Pochettino is looking forward to "one of the biggest games in the world" ahead of the final in Madrid but he knows Spurs need to remain focused on themselves.

He added: "Along with the World Cup final, the final of the Champions League is one of the biggest games in the world.

"It is going to be a different game, we cannot prepare for a final of the Champions League on what happened a few months ago. The circumstances are completely different, the circumstances are the circumstances.

"It is going to be different, that is why our focus is on ourselves."

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko echoed his manager's view and believed the squad would be up to the challenge of trying to win the European Cup for the first time.

The France international says the spirit in the squad has helped them fight back numerous times this season, including their semi-final second-leg comeback from three goals down to beat Ajax.

"The spirit is fantastic," he said. "Every time we were close to be out but we showed a lot of character to win the game. We know we can challenge against every team."

Spurs lost 2-1 against Liverpool in their home Premier League clash back in September, and by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture two months ago.

But Sissoko remains confident ahead of the showpiece final, adding: "I am not scared of Liverpool or any team.

"We all need to challenge and we have to give our best and if we do it we can beat any team. In the past we have showed it."