USA’s Pochettino Sharpened Harry Kane By Breaking His ‘Bad Habits’ At Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino has opened up about the transformative period at Tottenham Hotspur where he helped Harry Kane overcome "bad habits" to reach the pinnacle of world football. 

The current United States Men's soccer and former Spurs boss revealed that a frank conversation regarding professionalism was necessary to propel the striker from a fringe player to an elite goalscorer.

When Pochettino arrived at White Hart Lane in 2014, Kane was struggling to make an impact and sat behind several other strikers in the pecking order. 

The Argentine manager identified that while the young forward possessed a determined mindset, his off-field discipline and training routines were preventing him from reaching his full potential. 

By implementing a rigorous new training schedule and addressing lifestyle choices, the coaching staff helped facilitate Kane’s transition into becoming Tottenham’s all-time record goalscorer.

(Getty Images Sport)

Pochettino explained that Kane's rise was not immediate and required a significant shift in the player's daily approach to his craft. 

The manager highlighted the importance of the striker's intelligence in accepting difficult feedback and making the necessary changes to his diet and physical preparation.

Reflecting on those early days during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, Pochettino said: "When Tim Sherwood left the club and we arrived, I think Harry Kane was the third or the fourth striker. When we started to work with Harry, we saw that his mindset was determined to be successful.

"It's true he didn’t have the best habits, but after we had a talk with him, he was very intelligent and was quick to change those habits (training, food etc). We feel proud, but it's him and the