OPINION
Mauricio Pochettino must start Harry Kane up front if he wants to name his best possible Tottenham starting line-up for the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid on Saturday.
Kane, 25, has confirmed [BBC Sport] that he is ready to play against Jurgen Klopp’s side this weekend and there is no way that one of the best centre-forwards in world football should be made to watch on from the bench in the biggest match in world club football.
It would mean that Fernando Llorente would have to be axed from the line-up after he started in Spurs’ final day draw against Everton earlier this month, but the reportedly exit-bound [The Sun] striker has proven he is better option off the bench in recent weeks with a fine display against Ajax in the semi-finals.
Hugo Lloris is a no-brainer to start in goals. Lloris is Tottenham’s captain and even though fans have a thing for Paulo Gazzaniga, there is no way that Pochettino can overlook the France international in his starting line-up.
Spurs beat Ajax in the semi-finals with a flat back-four after losing in the first leg with a back-three, so Pochettino should repeat what he did in Amsterdam and go with Kieran Trippier at right-back, Danny Rose and left-back and Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen in the centre.
Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko should be paired up in the central midfield roles while Lucas Moura, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son should be named as the attacking midfield trio.
Up front is where Pochettino has the big decision to make, and he absolutely has to start Kane, who lives for these kind of games.
Although Lucas bagged a hat-trick in the semi-final win at Ajax’s John Cruyff Arena, he should not be picked to spearhead the attack when Kane is there in the squad and available to play.
If there is one player for Tottenham who can win the Champions League, it is the Walthamstow-born goal machine.