Speaking after the Champions League tie with Marseille on Tuesday night, Harry Kane has revealed what was said at half-time to help the team turn around the game and go on to win.
Spurs went into the final match of Group D knowing that they needed a point to secure qualification for the knockout stages of this year’s Champions League.
A dire first half got even worse though when Marseille headed home a quick corner in first-half stoppage time. With the Lilywhites trailing 1-0, their time in the Champions League looked to be over unless they could improve in the second half.
But they did just that, as Spurs came out fighting at the Stade Velodrome, scoring an equaliser less than ten minutes into the second half through a Clement Lenglet header.
Tottenham dominated the second half entirely, and eventually secured all three points with a late winner from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, his fourth goal of the season (Transfermarkt).
In interviews after the game (via Football.London), Harry Kane explained how Hugo Lloris, Ryan Mason, and assistant manager Cristian Stellini made all the difference at half-time.
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Kane said: “Great desire in the second half, great mentality. It’s kind of been the story of our season so far, we’ve been more of a second-half team.
“There were a few words said by a few people at half-time, that we had to be more aggressive, have more intensity and I think we came out in the second half and did that.
“I’m not going to go into all the details but of course Hugo, being the captain, [spoke] and Cristian and Ryan, obviously standing in for Antonio.
“We’ve been in that situation before this season, which we’re a little more used to than we want to be, but we weren’t panicking which is the most important thing.
“We knew it was one goal and we could still qualify and we’re a team that always feels like we’re going to get chances, especially in the second half of games when teams get tired. That’s what happened but full credit to the boys and staff.
On the absence of Antonio Conte, Kane said: “It wasn’t easy not having the manager there but he was a big part of preparing the whole week. It was just a really important win and a great win for the club.”
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I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was worried about Antonio Conte not being there for the team, but clearly the leaders in the dressing room stood up and did their part. It’s easy to forget just how important and experienced someone like Hugo Lloris is, but as a World Cup winner, his presence in the dressing room cannot be understated.
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