Stand-in manager Cristian Stellini said Tottenham had no regrets over not starting Harry Kane in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United on Wednesday night.
Spurs named a front three of Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Lucas Moura for the clash at Bramall Lane but couldn’t break the deadlock before Kane and Dejan Kulusevski were introduced.
A stunning run from Iliman Ndiaye culminated in the 22-year-old shooting through Eric Dier’s legs and past Fraser Forster in the 79th minute and the visiting Premier League side weren’t able to find an equaliser, knocking them out of the FA Cup.
“It is not a regret,” assistant boss Stellini said on Kane starting the game on the bench. “We need to look in the medium period, we have many games.
“Harry Kane played in the last six games, one time with fever, one time with a problem. We have to take care of our best player.
“It’s not about Harry because we played with Richarlison, Lucas Moura and Sonny. I think it is good enough to play in this competition and against this sort of team.”
The defeat marked Tottenham’s fourth fifth-round exit in a row from the domestic competition, having not reached its final since 1991 when they beat Nottingham Forest.
Spurs haven’t won a trophy since 2008 and their slim hopes of glory in the Champions League are hanging by a thread following a 1-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 tie. They’re next in action on Saturday when they visit Wolves.
Source: 90min.com