Just five more days now until Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur clash in the UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid. Although we can’t say for certain which Premier League big six side will win, we do know that one of the managers/clubs is guaranteed to see his/their trophy drought out come to an end.
Liverpool are significantly favored, but Tottenham talisman Harry Kane has handed the underdogs a major boost by declaring himself fit for the biggest match in Europe. Ditto for another key player for Spurs, central defender Jan Vertonghen. He’ll be available for selection as well.
Kane has not played since he suffered ankle injury ligament damage on April 9 while Vertonghen has been out since the road leg of the semifinal tie against Ajax.
“I feel good. I started to feel my way back with the team at the end of last week,” said Kane, who will join up with the England squad for the UEFA Nations League after the UCL final.
“There have been no problems so far. This week now is to get the fitness as high as possible. Then it is down to the manager.
“Like I said, I feel good. The manager will assess it and decide whether I am ready to go or not. But so far, I feel good and ready. The ankle is strong. I did a lot of work on my own to get me into a good place to go back with the team. Since I have been with them, I have been full training, doing everything. I am at a place now where I am ready to go for any game.
“I feel ready and fit. I am sure every player wants to start. But that is not my decision. That is the manager’s decision. I will be ready for everything, but we will see what happens.”
Jan Vertonghen has told @vtmnieuws that he will be fit for the Champions League final. “I have fully trained with the squad last week. I feel good – super good. I have an history of ankle injuries, but I was only worried for half an hour – just after the Ajax game.” #thfc pic.twitter.com/5eqilZ45kQ
— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) May 27, 2019
Vertonghen said his ankle is feeling fine as well.
“I have fully trained with the squad last week. I feel good – super good,” the centre half told a Belgian news outlet.
“I have a history of ankle injuries, but I was only worried for half an hour – just after the Ajax game.”
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur UEFA Champions League Final FYIs
Kickoff: Saturday, June 1, 8pm, Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
Injury Report: Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool
Exclusive interview/match preview with LFC UCL legend Vladimir Smicer: part 1 part 2
Starting XI Predictions (coming later this week): Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur
Manager Press Conference Videos and Quotes: Mauricio Pochettino Jurgen Klopp
Google Result Probability (after 90 minutes): Liverpool win 48% Draw 27% Tottenham Hotspur win 25%
Prediction: Liverpool 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.