Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich and England forward, can imagine the dream “movie” being written in which he becomes a European champion with his German team on English soil and European champion with his English team-mates on German soil. Well, he does now star for FC Hollywood, so called because of all the drama that surrounds them.
Speaking after England landed here in Wroclaw last night before this evening’s tough Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine, Kane spoke powerfully about the winning mentality at Bayern, his near rivalry with the prolific Jude Bellingham, his envy at seeing his compatriots win trophies, and also of that tale of two cities, London and Berlin.
Kane is not the triumphalist type but he clearly enjoyed the possible script of the two trophies, one in London on June 1 and the other in Berlin on July 14. “Yes! I’ve been told about the Champions League final in Wembley, for sure,” Kane said. “I know the Euros are in Germany next summer so [if] there’s someone out there writing a movie, I’ll try and do my best to make it happen!”
Kane joked that he would “have a few words” if Bellingham’s prolific scoring start in La Liga continued into March
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He pointed out the rigours of such a challenge. “It’s hard. There’s so much time to go I don’t want to think about it too much, but if it did happen it would be incredible.” Bayern have been drawn against Manchester United, FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray in their Champions League group. Of United, Kane said, “It will be a tough one but I’m looking forward to it.”
Having moved to the German champions for £86 million, Kane relished the demands of life at the Allianz Arena. “It’s definitely a different pressure compared to what I felt at Spurs,” he said. “Of course we wanted to win things at Spurs but if you went a couple of games without winning then it wasn’t a disaster. The feeling at Bayern is that you have to win every game.
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“We won the first two games 4-0 and 3-1 and there was still talk about not being too happy about the way we played. That’s part and parcel of being at one of the biggest clubs in the world. We start the Champions League campaign when we get back, which they expect to win – or have a good chance of winning. So you’re going into those games with maybe a different feeling to what I’ve had in the past.”
There is a respect, if not fear, for English players in Germany, after Bellingham’s success with Borussia Dortmund, and also Kane and company knocking Germany out of Euro 2020. “I’m not too sure about ‘fear’. I think in recent games and of course in the Euros, the way we performed, we’ve earned the respect of Germany,” Kane said.
Kane has hit the ground running in the Bundesliga, scoring three in three, while noting Bellingham’s prolific immersion into life at Real Madrid with five in four. “I’ve seen his great start in La Liga,” Kane said. “He’s an extremely good player, great person, very mature for his age [20] so it’s great to see him doing well. He’s managed to score a few goals so [the pair are] competing for the most goals this season!” He’s not mentioned the European Golden Boot to Bellingham. “No, it’s too early. If we get to March and he’s still up there with me, I might have a few words!
“We want as many of our players as possible to be playing at the highest level. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two of the biggest clubs in the world. We’ve got great players who have played in big moments, big occasions, big games in our squad — not just for the national team but for their clubs. Me and Jude being at those clubs will only add to that. It adds another confidence to the team.”
There are now four €100 million players in the England squad (although Jack Grealish withdrew injured). “I don’t think it adds pressure. Of course with that price tag there is an expectation to perform,” Kane added. “But Jack has done great. Me, Dec [Rice] and Jude have had good starts to our new clubs so far. We’re level-headed people.”
Kane said that chasing Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record was never a factor in his thinking. “There was a lot of talk about it and the fact I was getting closer to it but I’ve never been anybody who’s chased individual honours ahead of team awards,” he said. “Ultimately it [his move] comes down to me to see how good I can be and I felt like I had to be playing Champions League football and competing for titles each year. Bayern Munich definitely gives me that.
“There’s no hiding the fact that it [a trophy] is the one thing missing from my career at the moment and when you have got players in the squad who have won things you want those experiences as well.”
Kane thinks that the majority of England’s fans will be behind Henderson after his move to Saudi Arabia
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He thinks of players he knows well, such as Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson — when he was at Liverpool — becoming Champions League winners. “As a competitor, when the boys are playing the Champions League and I’m just sitting at home watching it, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that hurt,” Kane said. “Of course, I want them to do well but a part of me wants to have those experiences. With the other players having done that, I’m not sure ‘jealous’ is the right word, but it does motivate me to push myself towards some of those trophies.”
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Mention of Henderson turned talk to whether he might be booed by England fans or protesting gay rights groups for moving to Saudi Arabia. “Every England fan is entitled to their opinions,” Kane added. “The majority of the England fans will be behind the team and once the game starts will be fully behind everyone. Jordan is a good friend of mine and a great person. He has got a job to do tomorrow night, as we all have and that’s where his focus will be.”
As for Gareth Southgate’s future, amid talk of the manager walking away after the Euros, Kane said: “We don’t know if it’s going to be his last tournament or not. Only he can make the decision. All of us, we want to win it for ourselves and for the team, and we want to win it for the boss as well.”
That would be a Hollywood ending.
