Kane can prove European pedigree in Juventus game
LONDON – Agence France-Presse
Harry Kane scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in 2017, but it is on the Champions League stage the prolific Tottenham striker must deliver to be truly measured against the five-time World Players of the Year.
Kane gets his chance when Europe’s premier club competition returns on Feb. 13 as he leads Spurs into the lion’s den of Juventus’ Allianz stadium in Turin, where the Italians have lost once in 27 Champions League games.
“Massive game but that’s what you look forward to as a player,” said Kane after deciding the North London derby in Spurs’ favor on Feb. 10 with his 32nd goal of the season.
“You want to test yourself against the best and Juventus have been amazing in the Champions League recently, so looking forward to it.”
They don’t come much better than Juve’s defense, led by legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and veteran rugged defender Giorgio Chiellini, who have conceded once in their last 16 games.
“Harry Kane is a fantastic player. He played against us three years ago and he has really improved,” Chiellini told the Daily Mail newspaper.
“Now he scores more than Messi in a calendar year...and that’s very different to scoring more than Chiellini!”
The Italian champion blunted Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar over two legs to dump out Barcelona on route to its second final in three years last season.
And German midfielder Sami Khedira believes stopping Kane will be just as big a task.
“Harry Kane for me is maybe the most complete striker,” the German midfielder told the BBC.
“He is strong, good with his head, fast, good with his feet, can score with one touch, he can dribble.
“For me he’s an amazing player and still young, so Tottenham are lucky to have him.”
