HISTORY MADE: HARRY KANE BECOMES THE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO HIT 500 CAREER GOALS
Harry Kane makes history with 500 career goals! Read Kompany’s verdict on the Lewandowski record and the race for the Golden Boot.
Bayern Munich’s head coach, Vincent Kompany, thinks Harry Kane cares more about defending the Bundesliga title than chasing Robert Lewandowski’s single-season goal record. Still, he admits Kane probably has breaking that record in the back of his mind. Kane scored twice in Bayern’s 3-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday, pushing his league total to 26 goals this season.
Kane’s two goals against Werder took him to an incredible 500 career goals; no English player has ever hit that milestone before. Now, Lewandowski’s mark of 41 goals in a 34-game Bundesliga season is the next big target.
When someone asked Kompany if Kane could break Lewandowski’s record, he just smiled and said, “I figure the league title means more to him than the record.” Then, with a laugh, he added, “But hey, maybe I’m wrong; I was a defender, not a striker! Kane’s Kane. He always scores.”
Kane himself got the inevitable question about chasing 41 goals. He played it cool and said, “Anything’s possible, but it’s a long season. That’s an unbelievable record. I’m in a good spot right now and glad to help the team. We’ll see where I am when April comes; maybe then I’ll think about it. For now, I’m just focused on the next game.”
With 26 goals, Kane has actually outscored seven entire Bundesliga teams this year. Heidenheim, St. Pauli, Werder Bremen, Hamburg, Augsburg, Mainz, and Borussia Monchengladbach are all behind him. Right now, he’s also leading the scoring charts across Europe’s top five leagues, ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (23) and Man City’s Erling Haaland (22).
Mario Basler, a Bayern legend, didn’t hold back; he said he believes Kane can break Lewandowski’s record, even with all the extra work Kane does for the team. Basler said, “Kane’s just a different kind of player. Lewandowski didn’t put in as much defensive work. Kane does. Sometimes he’s even helping out in midfield or backing up Nicolas Jackson when he comes on. I think he really has a shot at the record, and for me, he’s the striker of the year.”
Lewandowski, on his part, has looked back at his own achievement and said, “I scored 41 goals in 29 games that season. That’s the number I had in my mind. I broke the record in 29 matches, and, honestly, I’m proud of it. I appreciate it even more now. For me, it was always about those 41 goals in 29 games, not just whether someone would break the record.
MATTHAUS WARNS KOMPANY: DO NOT CHANGE ATTACKING STYLE DESPITE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT
Bayern have secured the Bundesliga! Read why Matthaus wants more "spectacular football" despite the 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG.
Lothar Matthaus has called on Vincent Kompany to continue with his attacking style, despite Bayern Munich's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The German legend feels Bayern’s entertaining approach shouldn’t be altered even though their defence showed vulnerabilities during the 6-5 aggregate loss in the semi-finals.
After conceding six goals over two legs, Bayern’s Champions League run came to an end. While the defeat exposed defensive issues, it also highlighted the offensive strategy Kompany has brought to the team. These defensive struggles aren’t limited to Europe either; high-scoring Bundesliga matches, like the 4-3 win over Mainz and the 3-3 draw with Heidenheim, have revealed a back line that’s still trying to find the right balance between taking risks and maintaining solidity.
Matthaus, who once captained Bayern, stresses that the club should stick with Kompany’s attacking mindset, even if it leaves them open at the back. He pointed out, “With such an attacking style of play, you can't defend everything, of course. Yes, they've conceded quite a few goals, but they’re still having a successful season and are close to winning the double. They’ve even made it to the Champions League semi-finals.”
The return of excitement at the Allianz Arena was clear, especially during the second leg when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the crowd. Although Harry Kane’s late equaliser wasn’t enough to turn the tie around, Matthaus sees positives in the bigger picture. He believes Bayern has brought back the thrill and flair fans expect.
“While Bayern didn’t play their best in the semi-final second leg against PSG, they have entertained throughout the year. I look forward to their matches because they’re usually packed with goals. Bayern stands for spectacular football, and this season has been no different. I wouldn’t move away from that style,” Matthaus shared.
With the focus shifting back to domestic competitions, Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga championship. They still have two league games left against Wolfsburg and Koln before preparing for the DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart on May 23.
BAYERN MUNICH RULE OUT MARCUS RASHFORD MOVE REGARDLESS OF ANTHONY GORDON OUTCOME
Marcus Rashford is not a target for Bayern Munich this summer, as the club focuses entirely on signing Gordon from Newcastle.
Bayern Munich aren’t considering a move for Marcus Rashford this summer, no matter what happens with Anthony Gordon. That’s according to a German reporter who’s close to the story.
Right now, Rashford is wrapping up his loan at Barcelona. He’s set to return to Manchester United at the end of the season. Barcelona have an option to make the deal permanent for €30 million (£26 million) in the summer. Both Rashford and Barcelona want him to stay, but here’s the catch: the club doesn’t want to pay the full €30 million.
Barcelona would rather keep Rashford on loan for another year or get him for a lower fee. Manchester United’s not having it. They want the full price, so Barcelona are starting to look at other players.
Rashford hasn’t made a secret of where he wants to be. Earlier in the season, he told Sport, one of the local Barcelona papers, about how much he wants to stay, saying, “Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal.” He talked about the pressure and expectations at the club, saying they keep him motivated and that he feels like he’s in the perfect environment to grow and win trophies. For now, though, it’s all up in the air until next summer.
Last year, Bayern Munich actually showed some interest in Rashford before he went to Barcelona. But now, they’re focused on signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for the left wing. The problem is, Gordon’s interested, but Newcastle’s price is ridiculous, reportedly around £80 million (€92.6 million). That’s much higher than what Bayern’s willing to pay. They’re thinking closer to £60 million (€69.4 million), and maybe with add-ons or an instalment plan. If Newcastle won’t budge, it probably isn’t happening.
Christian Falk, a trusted journalist from Bild, says Bayern aren’t considering Rashford as a backup if they can’t land Gordon. Bayern’s got a short list of players for the left wing, and Rashford isn’t on it. Gordon’s their main focus, but even if that deal falls through, Rashford’s not the next in line.
So at this stage, Bayern and Rashford won’t be coming together this summer, even if Gordon stays at Newcastle. That’s just not in the plans.
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