Antonio Conte has admitted that he is lucky to have Harry Kane in his team, labelling the Tottenham striker as a ‘complete player’.
Kane’s form has improved considerably since Conte walked through the door at Spurs.
The striker has not only started finding the back of the net with his usual regularity but he has been influencing matches much more over recent weeks, showcasing his vision and passing range.
His ball over the top of the Leeds defence to pick out Son Heung-min for Tottenham’s fourth on Saturday was the 37th time that the two had combined together for a goal – a Premier League record (BT Sport).
Conte admitted that the central forward plays a crucial role in his system, with all attacks going through the number nine.
He insisted that it is a big bonus for him to have a player of Kane’s quality, who can operate as a number ten as well as a focal point up front.
When asked about the England captain, Conte told Football.London: “For me, the striker, the number nine is the most important player in my team. They are the point of reference in every situation we’re going to develop from the back.
“The strikers, especially the number nine, are the point of reference in this system. We have a number nine with two number 10s. In the past, I have had two number nines.
“They are very important and I’m lucky to have a player like Harry, because Harry is not only a number nine. He can became also a number 10 at the same time.
“You’ve seen the assist for Sonny which was amazing, it was incredible, but for sure, for him to continue to work in this way, he’s becoming a total player, a complete player.
“To be a number nine and 10 the same moment, it means you’re really, really one of the best strikers in the world.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Kane has shown for several years now that he is the most complete forward in world football but he is still not recognised as such by many since he does not play for a team that wins trophies regularly.
I suspect that it is only after the 28-year-old retires that non-Spurs fans will realise just how good a player he was. We are privileged to be watching one of the greatest players in the club’s history.