Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has insisted his side do not need to prove they can win without Harry Kane as they play Manchester United today without the injured forward.
Third-placed Tottenham are level on 20 points with second-spotted United, with both teams five points behind Man City. Kane has already hit 13 goals for Spurs this season but was forced off late on in last weekend's 4-1 win over Liverpool with a hamstring issue. The England captain will not feature against United. Pochettino said he was not willing to take a "risk" by involving .
'The Harry Kane team'
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola labelled Tottenham as "the Harry Kane team" but Pochettino pointed to last term, when Spurs coped without Kane as he nursed an ankle injury, as proof they can be successful without their talisman. "We don't need to prove ourselves, that we're Tottenham," he said. "Maybe people expect that but for us, no. I think last season, in the period he was injured, you can see the stats and the games we played -- win and lose with Harry, win and lose without Harry. "I'm disappointed because he is our main striker and I think he is one of the best strikers in Europe, in the world, and you are going to miss your best striker. I'm not silly or stupid to talk in a different way.
Collective responsibility
"You always want all the players available... We always believe in collective, the squad. During the season, problems happen and you must trust all the players, all the squad.
"The players are not machines and it is so difficult to cope with international duty and playing every three days. It is not a big problem, only a small issue, but he is not going to play (on Saturday)."
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