Tottenham Hotspur coach talks to players during training on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP
“It’s going to be a tough game and that’s what we want,” said 21-year-old striker Harry Kane in Denver, where he and his teammates have been training since the weekend. “It’s not long until the season starts, and we need to see what we need to work on.”
Keane, a three-time MLS champion with the Los Angeles Galaxy, has received his third All-Star nod, but had to miss the 2013 and 2014 editions because of injury.
The Republic of Ireland great is especially eager to get his chance against the club he starred for in two spells between 2002 and 2011.
“This is a special one for me because it’s against Tottenham, my club, the club where I felt I made my name and had a big impact ... this is a big deal for me,” Keane told Tottenhamhotspur.com.
Spanish forward David Villa of New York City FC, Brazilian Kaka of Orlando and former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard — LA Galaxy’s latest high-profile acquisition — will all be available to MLS All-Star coach Pablo Mastroeni.
Whatever the outcome, Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino said there will be no repeat of the post-game incivility shown last year by Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola in refusing to shake hands with his counterpart Caleb Porter after the All-Stars’ 2-1 triumph.
Guardiola was displeased with the physicality of the contest, particularly a rough tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“We expect a very tough game,” said Pochettino. “But I would never not shake hands with the opposing coach.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2015.
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