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Tottenham great David Ginola disagrees with Antonio Conte’s assertion that Spurs need a “miracle” to finish in the top four, but is not convinced that will be enough to keep Harry Kane happy.
Conte has repeatedly attempted to manage expectations around the North London side, insisting on Friday that Manchester United and Arsenal should be favoured for fourth place, rather than his side.
Spurs have won four of their last five Premier League games, having lost four of their previous five, and are three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal – with a crucial North London derby still to be rearranged – heading into Sunday’s clash with Newcastle United
Ginola, who made exactly 100 Premier League appearances during a three-year spell at White Hart Lane, believes Tottenham have Champions League qualification “in their own hands”.
“A miracle? I don’t think so,” Ginola said to Sky Sports ahead of Tottenham’s meeting with Newcastle. “If they win all their games until the end of the season, they can finish in the top four.
“Their destiny is in their own hands. If they play the way they can play, if they have no injuries and the players realise their duty for the rest of the season, looking at the remaining fixtures, it’s very simple for Spurs.
“Antonio Conte will be crucial, and on the pitch, it will be [important] for Kane and Son Heung-Min to score the goals.”
Kane was named Premier League Player of the Month for a joint-record seventh time on Friday, having recorded six goal contributions (four goals and two assists) during a largely successful month for Spurs.
Tottenham’s 12 goals in March represented the highest tally recorded by any Premier League side but the England captain’s future remains a topic of debate after he handed in a transfer request before the start of the season.
The 28-year-old failed to force through a move to reigning champions Manchester City, but Ginola believes he will not be content with qualifying for the Champions League and needs to challenge for trophies.
“For a player of his calibre, playing year-in, year-out, just to be in the top four, it’s not enough,” he added added.
“If he’s got propositions in the future to play with clubs who will challenge for and win trophies, that’s where he could [leave]. At the end of your career, what you look at is the list of trophies that you won.”
Kane has hit 12 goals and five assists in Premier League action this season, with his telepathic partnership with fellow forward Son keeping Spurs in top-four contention.
Over half of Kane’s career Premier League assists to date (20 of 39) have set up the South Korea forward, with only Frank Lampard (24 for Didier Drogba) and David Silva (21 for Sergio Aguero) ever teeing up another player on more occasions in the competition.
