Kane using domestic bitter pill to fuel Bayern’s European bid
Harry Kane says the bitter pill of Bayern Munich’s doomed Bundesliga title defence and the prospect of a Wembley final is fuelling his desire for Champions League glory.
Former Tottenham star Kane returned to haunt familiar foes Arsenal by converting a firsthalf penalty in Tuesday evening’s thrilling quarter-final first leg which ended tantalisingly poised at 2-2.
Bayern’s 11-season run as German champions could be over before next week’ s return match with the Gunners as unbeaten runaway leaders Bayer Leverkusen sit 16 points clear with only 18 left to play for.
England captain Kane has understandably written off domestic silverware but retains hope of ending the season on a high under the arch of his country’s national stadium on June 1.
“Look, it’s a competition that the club want to win,” he said.
“Not winning the Bundesliga this year is a tough pill to swallow and it makes this competition even more important but we know there’s still a long way togo. we have to find that togetherness,we have to find that team ethic where we grind out games because we haven’t done it enough this year.
“In the Champions League, we’ ve done well, had a good campaign but we will need more of that if we want to go all the way to Wembley.”
Kane was cast in the role of pantomime villain at a raucous Emirates Stadium and responded with his 15th career goal against the gunners to help keep Bayern’s season alive.
The 30-year-old, who now has a remarkable tally of 39 goals this term, sees parallels between his current team’s predicament and when Spurs reached the 2019 Champions League final despite finishing 27 points a drift of champions Manchester City in the top flight.
“That campaign itself is similar because we weren’t having a great time in the league if I’m totally honest,” he said
“But we found some passion and togetherness in the Champions League and we managed to get to the final.
"That experience gives me hope that we can find that again, we know we can perform in the big games and try to get back to the final.
“Being at Wembley is also extra motivation for me personally being my national stadiumand it’ s still thereto try and achieve."
Bayern departed north London feeling aggrieved after Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg opted against penalising Arsenaldefender gabriel for inexplicably picking up the ball in his own box after a David Raya goal kick in the 67th minute.
Manager Thomas Tuchel branded the decision “horrible”, while Kane and fellow exspurs man Eric Dier were both left bemused.
Arsenal later appealed for an added-time penalty when Bukayo Saka tumbled under a challenge from visiting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“It was a stone wall penalty and I don’t know why the ref didn’t give it,” Kane said of the Gabriel incident.
“It would have been strange. But the ref blew the whistle (for play to resume), he (Raya) passed it, he (Gabriel) picked it up, it would have been child like but that’s not our problem.
“The rules are the rules. Maybethey should have had one, we should have had one.”
Bayern’s sense of injustice was heightened by Leandro Trossard’s 76th-minute equaliser after goals from former arsenal forwards ergegnabry and kane overturned Saka’s early opener.