Tottenham Hotspur 6, Millwall 0: Spurs will not cry over star striker’s injury and will find solutions, insists Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has backed his side to maintain their silverware hunt despite fears that top scorer Harry Kane could miss the majority of their remaining matches after limping out of their FA Cup annihilation of Millwall.
Kane lasted just six minutes after incurring an ankle injury, which followed an innocuous challenge from Millwall centre-half Jake Cooper, and Pochettino admitted the knock looked similar in severity to the one which sidelined him for 10 games earlier in the season.
The 23-year-old’s absence was not immediately felt as Tottenham comfortably reached their first FA Cup semi-final since 2012 courtesy of a Son Heung-min hat-trick and strikes from Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Vincent Janssen.
“He [Kane] twisted his ankle – the same ankle as it was before,” said Pochettino. “Now we will wait and assess and see. We hope it’s not a big issue but it looks similar.”
Spurs won just four of the 10 matches Kane missed earlier in the campaign but with Son’s treble and Janssen’s first Tottenham goal from open play – in his 30th appearance – Pochettino played down fears of a potential slump in form.
“When you lose a player like Harry Kane we will miss him but it is important for the players who can play in his position to feel the net and score goals,” added the Argentinian.
“This could be a turning point for Vincent and Son can play like a striker. One of our best performances was against Manchester City [2-0 victory in October] and he was the striker.
“I am sad about Harry’s injury but we must try and find solutions. We cannot cry. We have enough players to replace him and win games. It will never be an excuse if we don’t win games or achieve our aims.”
League One Millwall could face Football Association sanctions after a section of their supporters was accused of targeting Son with racist chants.
“I didn’t hear anything,” said Millwall manager Neil Harris. “[But] me personally, and the club, we won’t condone that.
“We came here in the right spirit, to enjoy an FA Cup quarter-final. I’m sure it will be investigated. We want people dealt with harshly. It’s wrong in society and it’s wrong in football.”
Tottenham opened the scoring on 31 minutes when Kane’s replacement Eriksen angled a first-time effort into the far corner, before Son curled home a sublime second as half time approached.
Son latched onto a clipped Kieran Trippier pass to volley beyond Millwall goalkeeper Tom King, while Alli’s tap in and Janssen’s swept finish ensured Tottenham made light work of what is likely to be their final FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane.
Former Bayer Leverkusen forward Son completed his hat-trick in stoppage time as his fizzing volley was fumbled over the line by Millwall stopper King.