Only an FA Cup win will make Spurs' season a real success says Harry Kane

Fresh from beating Chelsea away for the first time since 1990 Kane believes Tottenham need to end another notable drought - their 27-year wait for an FA Cup triumph

Harry Kane says that Tottenham need to win the FA Cup in order for their season to be a success. The 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, Tottenham’s first win at Stamford Bridge since 1990, virtually secured their place in next season’s Champions League, with eight points now separating the two sides. Now, Kane believes, Tottenham need to end another notable drought - their 27-year wait for an FA Cup triumph.

“Champions League football is a must, and we’re in a great position,” Kane said when asked what would constitute an acceptable campaign. “I think we’ve got to try and win the FA Cup. If we do that, we can say it’s been a very good season.

“Obviously [Manchester] City have run away with the league this year, and fair play to them. But for us, it’s about maintaining the Champions League every year, and trying to win a trophy. We’re in a good spot. We’ve got a tough game against Manchester United in the semi-final, but if we can get through that, we play Chelsea or Southampton, and go from there.”

Barring a late-season collapse, Tottenham’s third consecutive top-four finish would be a feat not achieved since Bill Nicholson’s Double winners in the early 1960s, and another yardstick of their progress under Mauricio Pochettino as they move into their new stadium. And Kane said that Spurs were now a team that expected to play on the biggest stages every season.

“We don’t just want to be a team that gets there one or two years and then falls off,” Kane said. “We deserve to be there. We showed this year in the Champions League that we can compete with the best. Obviously, it was disappointing to go out, but we had some great results, so we want to be there again next year and do the same.”

Kane’s 16-minute substitute appearance was his first since limping off with an ankle injury against Bournemouth three weeks ago. At the time, it was thought he would be out for over a month. As it turned out, Kane was back sooner than expected, and grateful for the opportunity to have a short break ahead of the Premier League run-in and this summer’s World Cup.

Alli scored twice as Spurs ended their Stamford Bridge hoodoo (AFP)

“The swelling went down quick,” he explained. “Whenever I get injured, I prepare right and make sure I do everything I can to get back on the pitch. Whenever something bad happens in football or life, you have to find the positives. For me, it was a chance to get a couple of weeks’ break, refresh the other muscles, and get ready for the business end of the season.”

Kane’s return also reignites the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, with Mo Salah now five goals ahead of Kane on 29. “He’s obviously got a bit of a head start now,” Kane said. “I can’t control what he does, so I’ve just got to make sure I prepare well. Salah’s done fantastic - he’s a great, great player. For me, I’ve got to focus on my own game and my own team, and we’ll see what happens."