Kane on player commitment comments: ‘I didn’t expect it to get as much coverage as it did’ | OneFootball

Harry Kane admits he did not expect his comments regarding his teammates commitments towards England to blow up the way it has.

In an interview at the start of the current international break with ITV, the England captain said the situation which saw eight players drop out was ‘taken advantage of’ with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Phil Foden missing.

When asked about his comments, Kane was adamant it was just his opinion with no malice behind it:

“I didn’t expect it to get as much coverage as it did,” the Bayern Munich forward said. “The November camp has always been difficult – you’re in the heart of a lot of games.

“So it’s just my opinion that it is really important after a major championship, where September, October, November camps are really important in a year ahead to the World Cup.

“These are the camps as well where you build that culture and that togetherness that lead you into a World Cup. It was just a reminder that it’s really, really special to play for England.

“All the players try and give their best whenever they come with England, I know it’s a really tough stage of the season.”

“Whoever is in the squad is the most important thing. Whatever we have here is all we can work with.

“Going forward there are always going to be injuries, it is just whoever is with the squad is ready to make a difference.”

When asked whether the impending arrival of Thomas Tuchel could jeopardise the team chemistry England have built over the past seven years, the 31-year-old

“I think Lee has done a great job, and I’m sure Thomas will come in and have his own ideas and ways that he wants to build his culture.

“Ultimately, we’ve had some really good tournaments and it’s about using that experience and sharing some of those experiences to the players who haven’t had as much exposure to that.”