Harry Kane criticised for ‘disappointing’ leadership as Roy Keane aims dig at England star

Euro 2020: Scotland fans descend on London for England clash

Roy Keane has criticised England captain Harry Kane for his “disappointing” leadership at Tottenham last season. Spurs endured a disappointing season and former Manchester United skipper Keane believes Kane was not vocal enough on the pitch when results were not going his side’s way.

Kane enjoyed a brilliant campaign in front of goal, returning 28 goals and 16 assists in 46 appearances for Tottenham across all competitions.

The 27-year-old striker picked up the Premier League’s Golden Boot, but his side was not so successful, finishing seventh in 2020/21.

Things were far from harmonious off the pitch in north London, with Jose Mourinho struggling to foster a team spirit amongst the Spurs players.

Mourinho was sacked on April 19 in the days leading up to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City and interim boss Ryan Mason did not fare much better.

Hugo Lloris is captain at Tottenham, but Kane skippers England and Keane believes that he needs to improve his communication skills to become a better leader.

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Kane won the Premier League Golden Boot last season (Image: GETTY)

“Of course we all lead in different ways,” he said on ITV Sport in the build-up to England’s Euro 2020 match against Scotland at Wembley on Friday.

“Harry probably leads in the way he plays, the goals he gets.

“He’s been fine with England, I’ve been disappointed in a few games when I think Spurs haven’t been at it and I’ve never seen him pick people out, he kind of lets people get away with it and I’d want more from Harry Kane on that front.”

Tottenham suffered some extremely poor results in the second half of the season, with the nadir coming in the Europa League in March.

Spurs went into the second leg of their last-16 tie against Dinamo Zagreb with a 2-0 lead but conspired to lose 3-0 on the night to exit the competition in farcical circumstances.

Further poor results were to come for Spurs, who lost the Carabao Cup final 1-0 to Man City and failed to find any consistency in the Premier League.

It is not the first time Keane has criticised Kane for his leadership, with the Irishman laying into him in a SkyBet Road to Wembley series recently.

“The only thing I’d hold against Kane – there’s a big negative I have towards Kane,” he said.

“I think Kane is an amazing player. I think every club should be trying to sign him. Man United have got to sign him, I don’t care if it’s £120million – sign him.

“But I don’t think he’s a good leader. I never see him digging anyone out when he was at Spurs. I know people might go, ‘Well that’s not in his personality’, or ‘He might do it in the dressing room’. I don’t think he does, and that’s a big problem.”