MY ACCOUNT
Harry Kane put in a stunning display at the Etihad on Saturday — but unfortunately for Manchester City, he was wearing the white of Tottenham.
The England captain, widely tipped to join City last summer, netted twice in a shock 3-2 victory to blow the Premier League title race wide open.
After being vindicated for refusing to sell, Spurs will now hope the star striker can fire them back into the top four.
But they are sure to face another battle to keep their man this summer with his desire to win trophies now public knowledge.
Ahead of a trip to Burnley on Wednesday for Antonio Conte’s men, we look at what is next for Kane.
City stunner
In a flawless display, Kane caused the City defence problems they had rarely experienced all season.
From the first minute to the last, the striker was at the heart of a resurgent performance from Spurs, who arrived in Manchester off the back of three straight league defeats.
While his two fine finishes proved the difference, his passing was equally as impressive and he helped Tottenham provide a threat on the break throughout — nearly all of his 37 touches of the ball seemed to produce something going forward.
According to Jamie Carragher, there have not been many displays this season that have topped Kane’s.
The ex-Liverpool defender told Sky Sports: “That was one of the best performances I’ve seen this season, it really was. It was a privilege to watch.
“What made it so special was that Kane didn’t get a lot of the ball, but when it came into him, everything he did was pure class.
“Kane is one of the best passers of the ball in the Premier League, he’s not far behind [Kevin] De Bruyne.”
Back to his old self
While undoubtedly back to his best at the Etihad, it has been an underwhelming campaign for Kane in terms of output.
After going public with his desire to join City last summer, the hitman had a disrupted start to the season when Tottenham’s desire to keep hold of him meant he had to stay put.
With the cloud of that failed move still hovering over him, he netted just one Premier League goal in 13 appearances between August and December.
A return to form in recent weeks has taken his tally to seven. While that is far from disastrous, it is well below the usual spectacular standard he reaches.
Having netted at least 17 times in each of the last six top-flight campaigns, Kane will hope for at least a repeat of those numbers by having a prolific end to the season.
Whether that happens could depend on having himself and Heung-Min Son on the field together.
The South Korean’s assist for Kane’s first goal on Saturday means they have combined for 36 goals in the Premier League — levelling Chelsea legends Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard as the division’s most prolific strike partnership.
In the shop window
With Kane reaching the age of 29 before the start of next season, some had speculated on whether he had missed his chance for a move.
But in Saturday’s performance he showed why he would still be a transformative signing for any club.
That is the opinion of former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness, who thinks the England skipper will once again be a man in demand this summer.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “Harry Kane was fantastic. He’s put himself in the shop window again. Not just his goals but his general play.
“He was a real problem. He gets over the ball, he’s got the technique and the vision to see things, and he can deliver on what he sees.
“Some of his passing today was an absolute delight, as good as it gets.”
Kane’s actions on the pitch show he remains committed to Spurs in the short-term, while he has also publicly revealed his happiness with how things are going since Conte took over.
But it remains to be seen whether the Italian’s impact will be enough to keep him past this season.
Citizen Kane
In almost inevitable style, Kane has proved to be the man who prevented City’s charge towards the title from being the foregone conclusion it had seemed.
Nearest chasers Liverpool can move within just three points of the leaders if they win their game in hand against Leeds on Wednesday.
With City missing a host of chances to wrap up Saturday’s game, there is a feeling that things would have been different had Spurs’ No10 been lining up on the opposite side.
But if Guardiola’s post-match comments are anything to go by, City appear unlikely to go back in for him this summer.
Asked about their failed move for Kane in the aftermath of the defeat, the Spaniard said: “It never was an option and everyone knows this so forget [it]. It’s in the past.
“It’s not necessary for him to show today the goals he scored and his quality with the ball. Everyone knows it.”
Though looking frantically out of sorts at times this term, Spurs have shown in moments what they are capable of with Conte at the helm and sealing a return to the Champions League is still very much a possibility.
A strong end to the season may be what is required to convince Kane to stay put in North London — though that will not stop other clubs doing all they can to tempt him away.
