Bayern Monk’s Harry Kane returns to north London, same but different Football News

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane returns to north London to face old rivals Arsenal in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-finals and finds himself with a familiar problem. Kane will once again step onto the Emirates Stadium and become a shining light in a struggling team that looks set to have a disappointing season without any trophies. This time, however, Kane is wearing the red and white of Bayern Munich, a proud club that has crumbled under the weight of Xabi Alonso’s incredible Bayer Leverkusen side this season.

Despite a brilliant career, Kane failed to win any trophies and left Spurs to join German giants Bayern Munich, a club synonymous with success and trophies.

Kane quickly established himself as Bayern’s most important player, scoring 32 goals in 28 league games and six in the Champions League.

However, the England captain is still far from that elusive first trophy.

Leverkusen, long criticized for underperforming in crucial moments, are 16 points clear with six games remaining and could win the league for the first time this weekend (in between two games against Arsenal) champion.

Arsenal fans, who are top of the Premier League table, will no doubt be delighted to tell Kane that he has brought his trophyless curse to Bavaria.

Although Kane thought he would be happier back in north London after his €100 million ($108 million) move, Tuesday gave him the perfect opportunity to show his confidence to an Arsenal side that lacks European football pedigree. The team inserts the knife.

“Battle Mode”

Another man hoping to silence the doubters is Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, whose greatest coaching success came in the Champions League.

Tuchel guided PSG to the 2020 Champions League final, going further than any other manager with the team, and helped Chelsea win the competition a year later.

Although Tuchel has given up the league title for the first time in more than a decade, he knows all will be forgiven if he wins the Champions League.

Tuchel retained five first-team players from Saturday’s surprise defeat at Heidenheim – captain Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Nussel Mazraoui and Alexander Pavlovich.

Tuchel said “none of those five have had a break” but all are expected to travel to London, with Neuer and Sane almost certain to feature.

“We have one goal left and that is to get to Wembley,” Tuchel said on Friday, explaining that “there is a rage inside us to put things right”.

“We’re already in the quarter-finals so there aren’t too many steps to take. Apart from this goal, nothing matters.”

Two-time Champions League winner Thomas Muller said his side could exploit that frustration and unleash it on Tuesday.

Muller pointed to his “experience” in football and said critics should hold off until there is nothing left to play for.

“This result puts me in fighting shape until Tuesday.

“Self-pity doesn’t help us at all,” Mueller said. “The resentment inside me started to smile again.”

quicksand

Despite their current predicament, both Bayern and Kane can take comfort from their results against Arsenal.

Kane has a habit of seeking sweet revenge on the club that sacked him as a youngster, scoring 14 goals in 19 games. No player has scored more goals in north London derbies.

The England captain’s win-loss record against Arsenal is less impressive but still solid at seven wins, seven losses and five draws.

Bayern has lost only three and won seven of 12 meetings with the Gunners in the Champions League, winning the past three games 5-1.

For the six-time European champions, Bayern’s record against Arsenal was a reminder of how much has changed between the two sides.

The Gunners are on course to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, having won all four of their Champions League home games this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding zero.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)