‘He is still phenomenal’ – Kane’s record-breaking night as Bayern ‘dream’

“I keep all the balls after hat-tricks. The lads might be sick of signing them, but keep them coming.”

Four-goal Harry Kane enjoyed another record-breaking night for Bayern Munich as they became the first team to score nine goals in a Champions League game.

The 31-year-old England captain’s performance in the 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb means he reached the following landmarks…

On top of netting a rebound after Joshua Kimmich had a shot saved, and three penalties, Kane also had a goal disallowed, and right at the end of the game volleyed over the bar.

Had he netted that chance he would have joined Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano and Erling Haaland as the only players to score five in a Champions League game.

He told Amazon Prime: “My son Louis, he loves playing football right now, he’s only three but I’ll take it [the match ball] home and put it next to his bed and he’ll be happy when he wakes up in the morning.”

On breaking the English Champions League record, he added: “Whenever you’re in a conversation with Wayne Rooney it means you’re doing something well. He’s one of the greatest English players and one of the best players there was in the game. It’s a nice achievement.”

Former England defender Stephen Warnock, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “Harry Kane is an exceptional professional.

“One thing we know about Kane is he’s never had blistering pace, his game is thought in the mind, he sees space and senses where the ball might drop – he is an intelligent footballer.”

This summer there were calls for Kane, England’s all-time record goalscorer, to be dropped during the run to the Euro 2024 final.

Warnock continued: “He will prove people wrong for the next couple of years. People are going to talk about it [his performances for England at Euro 2024]. It was a bad Euros for him.

“It didn’t go well and I think there was a number of factors; an injury he picked up in the late stages of the Bundesliga, the style of play England had, or, the wingers he was playing with didn’t complement him.

“He will score goals at Bayern Munich as he suits the way they play. The one thing about Vincent Kompany’s teams is they do create so many opportunities.”

Kane scored 44 goals in 45 games for Bayern last season. He recently marked his 100th England cap with two goals against Finland.

“He will be involved in 50 goals this season with goals and assists, but he will still get questioned about his England position,” added Warnock.

“I don’t know why people want to question him, he is still phenomenal.”

For all Kane’s goals – 417 for club and country now – he has yet to win a major trophy.

Bayern failed to win the Bundesliga for the first time in 12 years last season.

He has also lost two European Championship finals with England and a Champions League final with Tottenham.

Former Bayern and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, on TNT Sports, said: “He played to the level you’d expect [last season]. The other players didn’t.

“Harry is going to win trophies – the only question is which ones.”

Bayern’s first season without a trophy in over a decade saw Thomas Tuchel leave and Burnley boss Kompany take his place in the summer.

They have won their opening four games under the Belgian, scoring 20 goals.

This was the first time any team have scored nine goals in a European Cup game since Real Madrid beat Wacker Innsbruck 9-1 in 1990-91.

It marked the joint second highest scoring Champions League game – and the joint third biggest margin of victory.

The Champions League final this season is at Bayern’s Allianz Arena home.

“We’re not managing expectations right now,” said Kompany.

“The final in Munich next year is a dream for the fans, a dream that needs to live. My priority is just to focus on each game, one at a time, rebuild the energy and the desire to win the games.”

European football journalist Mina Rzouki said: “I think Bayern Munich are going to be the team to beat.

“There was criticism aimed at Vincent Kompany when he got the job, but what a way to start your Champions League campaign.

“From an attacking point of view they’re attacking on all cylinders.”

But Hargreaves said: “I don’t think he [Kane] will win the Champions League, conceding two to Dinamo Zagreb.”

For a while it appeared the focus would maybe be on another London-born player – Michael Olise.

The winger, who recently made his France debut, was making his European debut after a summer move from Crystal Palace.

And the former Reading player scored twice, once in each half.

The £50m signing looks as if he might be on for a fine season – having also netted in the Bundesliga at the weekend – but for now at least all the headlines were on Kane. – bbc.com