Kane: We fear no one

28 December 2014 02:01

Harry Kane has declared Tottenham have lost their fear factor against the big boys as he aims to topple Manchester United.

The striker admits Spurs used to head into games with the top sides doubting they could win.

Mauricio Pochettino's men have won their last three games and sit just a point outside the top five in the Barclays Premier League.

They host Manchester United on Sunday and then Chelsea on New Year's Day after Boxing Day's 2-1 win at Leicester.

And Kane, who opened the scoring at the Foxes, insisted the Champions League-chasing Spurs are not afraid.

He said: "Mentally we were beaten before we stepped out on the pitch because we were up against a bigger-named team. That isn't the case any more.

"We need to go into these games believing we can win. We haven't done it in the past few years. But that is something that has got to change.

"We have to change and believe we have got the ability to win these games.

"Players mentally have experienced losing and don't want it to happen again against these big teams.

"We're confident at the moment. We're winning games so why not.

"These are going to be tough games but we're ready for it and going for three points.

"The manager has built confidence and belief. The lads have taken to it great and there are no better than the big games at home."

Michael Carrick insists Manchester United should be targeting the Premier League title, rather than Champions League qualification this year.

United made it seven wins from eight matches on Boxing Day when they swatted Newcastle aside with an easy 3-1 win.

Despite the impressive recent run, United remain 10 points behind Chelsea and seven shy of second-place Manchester City, who have won their last nine matches in all competitions.

Chelsea and City have a far more-settled starting XI than United, who have suffered because of injuries this season, but Carrick believes it is not unreasonable to think the Red Devils can catch them and top the table at the end of the season.

"We're continuing to look up and will continue to try to catch them [City and Chelsea]," the midfielder told United's website.

"We're not satisfied with third. It's obviously an improvement and we're getting better but we want to keep looking up."

It has not been lost on the United hierarchy that the team's resurgence has coincided with Carrick's return to the starting XI.

Since Carrick recovered from an ankle injury at the start of November, the Red Devils have dropped just two points - a fact not lost on Sir Alex Ferguson, who described the 33-year-old as "the best English player in the game" this week.

Carrick prefers to think that United's upturn in form is partly due to the attacking options Louis van Gaal now has at his disposal.

On Boxing Day the United boss started with an enviable attacking quartet of Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie.

"That's four world-class players you're talking about there," Carrick said.

"Going in to a game with those lads in your team gives us a real threat and a lot of confidence knowing we can create chances and score goals. Against Newcastle they clicked nicely and hopefully in the weeks coming up we'll see something similar."

Van Gaal, ever the perfectionist, was not completely satisfied with his team's victory against the Magpies, which came courtesy of a Rooney double and a Van Persie header.

The United manager was delighted with his team's attacking play, but was less than happy with Phil Jones for clipping Jack Colback in the area to give Newcastle a late consolation from the penalty spot.

"We did a lot of bad things," Van Gaal said.

"Did you see the penalty? It was from our throw-in. it's not possible to give that penalty away.

"We can improve and we are improving every match. That's the most important thing.

"It's a process not for one day, but for a year."

Van Gaal was also unhappy with the Premier League for scheduling United's next game at Tottenham 43 hours after the game against the Magpies ended.

Carrick, who played for Spurs for two years before signing for United, thinks he and his team-mates must not dwell on the inconvenience too much, though.

"Going to Tottenham is always a tough game and to go there two days after this match at 12 noon makes it very tough," he said.

"But we have to get ourselves ready for that and it's the same for them as well. It's a game we look forward to and we go there confident."

Source: PA