Harry Kane says the bitter pill of Bayern Munich’s doomed Bundesliga title defense and the prospect of a Wembley final are fueling his desire for Champions League glory.
Former Tottenham star Kane returned to haunt famous rivals Arsenal by converting a first-half penalty in Tuesday evening’s quarter-final first leg, which ended with a tantalizing 2-2 scoreline.
Bayern’s 11-year run as German champions could come to an end ahead of next week’s second leg against the Gunners, with unbeaten, runaway leaders Bayer Leverkusen 16 points clear with just 18 points remaining.
England captain Kane has understandably written off domestic trophies, but still hopes to end the season on a high on June 1 under the arch of his country’s national stadium.
“Listen, this is a competition the club wants to win,” he said.
“Not winning the Bundesliga this year is a hard pill to swallow and makes this competition even more important, but we know we still have a long way to go.
“We have to find that unity, we have to find that team ethic where we keep grinding in the games because we haven’t done that enough this year.
“We did well in the Champions League, we had a good season, but we will need more of that if we want to get all the way to Wembley.”
Being at Wembley is also an additional motivation for me since it’s my home stadium and I still have to try to achieve that
Harry Kane
Kane was solid as a pantomime villain on the raucous Emirates Stadium and responded along with his fifteenth profession goal against the Gunners to help Bayern keep their season alive.
The 30-year-old, who now has a remarkable 39 goals this season, sees similarities between his current side’s plight and when Spurs reached the Champions League final in 2019 despite being 27 points behind the champions in the highest flight Manchester City.
“This campaign itself is similar because, to be completely honest, we haven’t had a lot of fun in the league,” he said
“But in the Champions League we found some passion and community and managed to reach the final.
“This experience gives me hope that we can do it again, we know we can perform in important games and try to get back to the final.
“Being at Wembley is also an extra motivation for me because it’s my home stadium and I still have to try to achieve that.”
Bayern left north London in sadness after Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg selected not to penalize Arsenal defender Gabriel for inexplicably handling the ball in his own penalty area following a goal kick by David Raya within the 67th minute.
Manager Thomas Tuchel called the choice “terrible” while Kane and former Spurs player Eric Dier were left confused.
Arsenal later appealed for an injury-time penalty when Bukayo Saka went down under a challenge from visiting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“It was a stonewall penalty and I don’t know why the referee didn’t award it,” Kane said of the Gabriel incident.
“That would be weird. But the referee blew the whistle (for the game to be restarted), he (Raya) passed, he (Gabriel) received, it would be childish, but it’s not our problem.
“Rules are rules. Maybe they should have had them, we should have had them.
Bayern’s sense of injustice was compounded by Leandro Trossard’s equalizer in the 76th minute, after goals from former Arsenal striker Serge Gnabry and Kane had overturned Saka’s opener.
Kane hopes to capitalize on the passion of a packed Allianz Arena in the second leg, having been mercilessly jeered by the home fans as the six-time European champions played in the absence of traveling fans due to UEFA sanctions.
“I think they have a soft respect for me, Arsenal fans,” Kane said. “I used to be a fan after I was younger, so I do know what it’s like, and for me, I just try to perform.
“For some reason I got so much of penalties at Emirates and I’m blissful I managed to put them away. It will probably be nice to be at home next time and in front of the Munich fans.
“It was hard without the fans, it was strange that there was nobody with us, but I feel we handled it well and I feel next week you will note them much more excited because they weren’t at this game, and perhaps even louder than they were they sometimes are.
Hopefully we will use that energy to our advantage and really try to put the pressure on.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
