Football Presse

Kane says Man City case being discussed inside England camp

·By Paul Lindisfarne
Share
Kane says Man City case being discussed inside England camp

Bayern Munich

Harry Kane has confirmed that Manchester City's ongoing disciplinary case was discussed within the England camp before the Nations League meeting with Spain, although the captain insisted it did not become a distraction for the players.

England lost 3-2 to the reigning world champions at Wembley in an entertaining Nations League encounter.

Much of the conversation surrounding the match in the build-up, however, had centred on the situation involving Manchester City.

The Athletic had reported that City were facing findings against them in 114 of the 115 charges they had been accused of breaching, although the club has consistently denied wrongdoing.

The subject inevitably reached the England camp because of the number of City players involved with the national team.

Kane acknowledged that there had been discussion among the players.

“There was a conversation, and it was a topic for us, but ultimately it is a big advantage for us when we are together with England,” Kane told ITV Sport.

The England captain said the players were able to separate their international responsibilities from the issues surrounding their clubs.

“We kind of put club football to one side, and it was no different this week,” Kane explained.

Kane also focused on the performance against Spain rather than the controversy surrounding Manchester City.

“We are playing against the world champions and the European champions, and we went toe-to-toe with them,” he said.

“On another day, we definitely would have won that game.”

England's defeat leaves them with work to do in the next Nations League round, when they travel to face the Czech Republic.

Spain, meanwhile, will host Croatia.

Bayern Munich striker Kane believes England can take encouragement from the performance despite the result, particularly given the quality of the opposition.

“We have to take the positives from the game. We have to get back up again and go out there again in a few days,” he said.

The Manchester City case therefore formed part of the background to England's preparations, but Kane's comments suggest the squad did not allow the issue to dominate their focus.

For the England captain, the immediate priority remains the international programme and improving on the narrow defeat to Spain.