Gareth Southgate hits back at Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho after Harry Kane international break request
Gareth Southgate has asked Jose Mourinho to co-operate with him to make sure that Harry Kane is fit for England and Tottenham Hotspur throughout this season.
Mourinho called on Southgate not to over-exert Kane during England's forthcoming triple-header of internationals against Wales, Belgium and Denmark at Wembley.
Tottenham are attempting to manage their way through a tight fixture schedule, with Thursday's Europa League tie against Maccabi Haifa being their sixth game in the space of two weeks.
Mourinho said he would not contact either Southgate or his assistant Steve Holland and pressure them to rest Kane, but asked that they "understand what happened with Tottenham this week and they respect the players."
Upon announcing Kane as part of his 30-man squad for the October internationals, Southgate said: "Jose was on good form. I heard him. He won't phone but he is going to stand at the top of Tottenham's stadium and tell us!
"The season as a whole is a huge challenge for clubs and national teams. We've all got to work together on that. It doesn't help anybody if we're not joined up on our thinking."
Southgate also reminded Mourinho of his own responsibilities later in the season, when England will be preparing to play at the rescheduled Euro 2020 finals.
"All Jose needs to do in April and May is make sure he looks after Harry Kane for us, because they'll be 55 million people relying on that. That obviously works both ways."
