Spurs manager insists forward must be managed with care while on duty in England, due to his club’s busy schedule
Jose Mourinho warned Gareth Southgate that Harry Kane could not start England’s three games against Wales, Belgium and Denmark
Kane will be part of the Southgate squad named on Thursday, with Tottenham teammate Eric Dier Harry Winks could also make his international comeback after missing the matches for Iceland and Denmark with injury
But Tottenham head coach Mourinho is worried about the condition of his players, following a grueling schedule that has seen them play two games midweek, as they do this week, in Carabao Cup and Europa League
Kane made a substitute appearance in Tuesday night’s penalty shootout win over Chelsea, having started in the Premier League against Newcastle United, and he will start Thursday night’s Europa League fixture against Maccabi Haifa ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United
But Mourinho insists Kane, who started both England games against Iceland and Denmark, needs to be handled with care while he is with the national team
« When Kane is in good shape he should start every game for Tottenham, but he didn’t do it yesterday [against Chelsea], so I think that’s the goal, » Mourinho said. « When you have such a player and you want to win every game you play it But you just can’t do it
« I believe Gareth [Southgate] and Steve [Holland] they care about the players and I don’t think they want to be linked to anything that may be a consequence of this week plus the three matches than the national team has, which is obviously too much – especially for my players
« So I don’t speak with Gareth, I don’t even speak with Steve and of course with Steve I’m a really good friend of his I just let them do their jobs however they want, with the freedom they deserve «
Mourinho revealed that Gareth Bale will not be part of the Welsh squad for their matches, which start with a friendly against England at Wembley, and added: “I haven’t spoken with Ryan Giggs too , I also leave with them the respect they should have towards their players because the players are our players but are also their players
« So I hope Gareth and Steve understand what’s been going on with the Tottenham players this week and they respect the players It’s just my hope, but I’m not gonna call, I’m not gonna ask, I’m not going to beg, I’m not going to press I think they deserve their freedom and I have the utmost respect for them «
Tottenham hope Bale will be fit to make his second debut for the club after the international break against West Ham United
« Looks like Giggs understands the player, knows how important this period is for the players and it looks like his decision is not to bring him to the national team, » Mourinho said
« Actually he’s not ready, couldn’t play for them, but being there and losing the work he could do with us would be very important for the player and when I say the player, the player belongs to Tottenham, belongs to the Welsh national team and it looks like he will have this period to work, in particular, and it looks like he will be back in good shape «
More generally on Tottenham international players, Mourinho added: “I hope the national team coaches have their data and realize how many minutes Tottenham players have played this week and I hope they care about the players and protect them because as Tottenham players this week they have an amazing amount of minutes and work and it’s very, very dangerous What I did with Eric Dier [against Chelsea] is very, very dangerous «
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Phil Foden, Manchester United FC, Gareth Southgate, UEFA Nations League, Manchester City FC, England National Under-21 team
News from World – GB – Jose Mourinho warns Gareth Southgate about playing too much Harry Kane for England
