[ad_1]
For 76 minutes at Turf Moor, Burnley did a good job of keeping Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son calm.
Kane, unplayable when he fell to midfield for much of this season, was tagged closely every time he received the ball, meaning Son was almost out of service as a result. It seemed like Sean Dyche had figured out how to put down the Spurs.
But even on a night when the pair were rarely able to combine in open play, they found their way to goal in the end.
After Kane threw Erik Lamela’s corner kick into the six-yard box with just under a quarter of an hour to go, there was Son, ready to take advantage and direct his header to the roof of the net.
2:51
The goal sealed a valuable victory for the Spurs and further highlighted the seemingly telepathic understanding between Kane and Son. The latter’s smile when he realized that it was the former who had set him up underlined the excellent relationship between them.
Kane and Son have now combined for nine goals in just six Premier League games this season.
Kane has scored eight of Son’s seven goals. In total, he has now provided as many assists (eight) as he did in the previous three seasons combined. Son, for his part, only needs three more goals to equal his account from the entire last campaign.
Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have combined for 29 goals in the Premier League
The numbers are remarkable, but the understanding of Kane and Son is nothing new. In fact, they have now combined for 29 Premier League goals, leaving them behind only Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard in the competition’s history and on the level of David Silva and Sergio Agüero, as well as Robert Pires and Thierry Henry.
At this rate, I wouldn’t bet against Drogba and Lampard’s record being reviewed before the season is out. The Kane and Son show is proving difficult for the rest.
Carra: Kane has a special understanding.
It owes much to Kane’s special understanding of the game, according to Sky sports expert Jamie Carragher. As well as adding creativity to his game, the 27-year-old knows exactly where to position himself on the field.
That also applies to the defensive side of the game. Shortly before providing the winning goal, Kane even had the presence of mind to fall over the Spurs goal line from a Burnley corner and prevent James Tarkowski from leading the hosts to the front.
“Harry Kane is one of the brightest footballers in the game in terms of understanding the game,” Carragher said.
“It is conscience,” he added, when analyzing vital clearance. “‘I can’t affect the ball in the air, but I can fall.’
“The position Harry Kane is in, as soon as the ball goes over him, it’s brilliant, that understanding and awareness.
“I think a lot of the coaches’ frustration when dealing with players is based on their understanding of the game.
“When they are given instructions, they don’t really understand what they are supposed to do.
“But Kane is the kind of person you tell him once and that’s it.”
Neville: Son is world class
It’s not just Kane who has taken his game to another level this season, of course. Son’s eighth goal of the campaign put him ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the top of the scorers table and, according to Gary Neville, reflects his stature as a world-class player.
“I think Mourinho was asked a question last week about when Son will become a world class player and he said he’s already there,” Neville said. “I definitely agree.
“He’s an absolutely amazing player. He’s a nightmare to play against and he does all the right runs.
“We talk about Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah regularly, but Son has that quality. If he were playing for Liverpool or Manchester City, he would be doing what those guys are doing. He is absolutely exceptional.
“I think every team in the world would accept Son. There is no team in Europe or in the Premier League that does not accept him.”
Kane: son in good shape
4:37
Meanwhile, Kane was delighted that his flick-on was landing on the right man.
“When things go your way a bit, the ball tends to fall to the right people and Son is in good shape right now,” he said. Sky sports. “We are lucky that she fell in love with it and kept it.”
When asked how he explains his extraordinary number of goal combinations this season, Kane added: “When I have fallen deeper this season, the wide players have been running behind and that has given me room to lift my head and play those passes. Perhaps we have not been doing it in recent years.
“Confidence is high, and everyone knows that if I take the ball and turn around, they have a chance to go to goal. We go with the flow and it was an important victory tonight in a difficult place.”
Mourinho: No jealousy between Kane and Son
4:30
José Mourinho was equally pleased, insisting that much of the credit for Kane e Son’s relationship must go to his Spurs predecessor Mauricio Pochettino.
“I think it is an understanding that comes from the time of Mauricio. I don’t want all the credit for myself, let’s share it with Mauricio, because they played together for quite some time, probably in another way.
“Now Harry is probably not always number 9 because he gets into some areas that allow Son to get into different areas as well.
“What I like the most is not that they are two great players, but close friends. There is no jealousy. ‘I play for you, you play for me, we both play for the team, we both play for Tottenham.”
“So credit to them, two great guys.”
[ad_2]
