Virgil van Dijk claims Harry Kane was NOT 100% fit at Champions League final… as Spurs ace insists he is fine after heatwave during poor display
VIRGIL VAN DIJK claimed Harry Kane was not 100 per cent fit to play in the Champions League final.
Kane puffed his way through Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat in Madrid after returning from a seven week lay off with ankle ligament damage.
Van Dijk, who marked the Spurs striker out of the game, is expected to come up against him on Thursdsy when Holland meet England in the Nations League semi-final.
And he suggested his opponent was not ready when he faced him in the biggest match in European club football last week.
Van Dijk said: “Kane is a fantastic striker, one of the best in England, and definitely the best striker England have got for the national team.
“But I know also that, if you’re not 100 per cent fit, it’ll be in your head if you get a bit of a knock or you make get a bit of pain when you pass it.
HEATWAVE
“I expected him to play the final, but not at 100%. I don’t know if he’ll play against us, but we’ll see.”
Despite the claims of the Liverpool star, Kane has insisted he was totally ready to play in Madrid – though admitted the heatwave in Madrid made it tough.
Even so, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has to decide whether to throw him in from the start or opt for Marcus Rashford down the middle.
The striker said: “Physically I feel good. It was a tough game, it was hot out there.
Most read in football
“I feel good. The injury is never easy, I was out for eight weeks nearly.
“You do as much as you can, rehab and training and you want to be part of the team, you want to get back with them as soon as possible.
“I have trained now for a couple of weeks, obviously played on Saturday, I’ve had no problems and physically I feel fine.”