Christian Eriksen defends Harry Kane over underwhelming Tottenham form ahead of Inter Milan meeting

Before Tottenham’s opening Champions League group stage game against Inter Milan, Eriksen said Kane’s output was the responsibility of the entire team

Christian Eriksen has defended Harry Kane after his underwhelming start to the season, and admitted that the rest of the Tottenham team need to improve their supply line to the striker. Kane has scored just twice in six appearances in all competitions this season, and so far is taking less than half as many shots as he was last season. And ahead of Tottenham’s opening Champions League group stage game against Inter Milan, Eriksen said Kane’s output was the responsibility of the entire team, and that the other attacking players also need to chip in with more goals.

“Everyone expects him to score three goals every game,” said Eriksen, who also admitted he had been short of his best form at times this season. “As a team we know we have to feed him, but in a team that is losing it is very difficult to score goals, even one that keeps creating chances. I know Harry wants to score more, and so do the rest of the team. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who is scoring and who is not scoring. It’s about winning games.”

After two consecutive defeats, Tottenham go to the San Siro low on confidence, but Eriksen denied that the exertions of the World Cup this summer had sapped them. “No, we are not tired after the World Cup,” he insisted. “Everyone has had near enough the same break. Of course we are unfortunate we had so many players going so far in the tournament, which meant they started their pre-season later. But our performances have had nothing to do with tiredness. And personally, I haven’t felt tired.”

Eriksen said Tottenham had played “all right” so far this season, but that the Inter Milan game offered a prime opportunity to get back on track. “There is no better place to put things right than at the San Siro,” he said. “It’s the perfect stadium to play in. And there will no better way to start a Champions League campaign than with a win at the San Siro. It’s going to be an exciting game.”

Harry Kane has scored two Premier League goals this season (Reuters)

This is Tottenham’s third straight season of Champions League football, and Eriksen conceded that expectations of the squad would be higher now. “The perspective has changed,” he said. “It's completely different from when I arrived. Back then we were fighting to get into the top six. Now people expect us to finish in the top four and play in the Champions League every season. Yes, that puts a little bit more pressure on us, but that’s a good thing.”

Eriksen batted away enquiries over the status of his contract negotiations with Tottenham, which have reportedly stalled. The Dane’s deal expires in 2020, but he said he had no intention of leaving. “I am just focusing on football,” he said. “I leave the talking to someone else. But I am very happy where I am.”