England star Harry Kane, Bayern Munich's striker and the recently crowned Ballon d'Or winner, expressed his great appreciation for praise from Argentine coach Diego Simeone of Atlético Madrid. Kane said Simeone's words are a source of pride for him, describing him as one of the best coaches of the modern era.
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Kane's remarks came during a press conference he held on Monday at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, on the eve of Atlético Madrid's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
The England captain said: "I thank Simeone for his words. He is one of the best coaches of the modern era, and hearing this praise from him makes me very proud."
Kane added: "My journey is different from those of some Ballon d'Or winners. I went through difficult moments, and some people thought I would never reach this level, but through hard work and determination I was able to reach the top."
He noted that the match against Atlético will be a tough battle, affirming that Simeone will do everything possible to stop him and his teammates, but that he greatly values the words the Argentine coach said about him.
Moving to Bayern Munich changed his life
Kane spoke about his experience with the Bavarian club, describing his move there as a pivotal stage in his career. He said: "The move to Bayern was a big step in my career. It changed my life both on and off the pitch. We moved with the family to a new country, and everyone welcomed us wonderfully, and I am happy to have taken that step."
He also revealed that a conversation with Portuguese coach José Mourinho helped him develop his style of play. He explained that at that stage he felt he had achieved a lot, but was capable of going further.
He said: "I was thinking that I had achieved many things, but I could reach higher levels. Mourinho helped me understand how to reach my full potential, and my style changed a little thanks to that."
"Then I moved to Bayern, where we can reach a higher level, and I believe I will keep improving."
A difficult test against Atlético and an ambition to return to the final
Kane described the match against Atlético as a difficult test, stressing that the Spanish side's strength is not limited to defensive organization. They also have attacking qualities and players capable of hurting opponents.
He said: "We know how dangerous Atlético are and how they attack. They are also physically strong and press a lot, especially at home. We must be ready for a big battle."
The England striker did not hide that his memories of the Metropolitano are not the best, having lost the Champions League final there. However, he hopes to return to the stadium to play in this season's final, which will also be held at the same ground.
He added: "They are not my best memories, but I want to come back here. It is a wonderful stadium, and the fans will be at the peak of enthusiasm."
"I hope tomorrow's match will be a good memory, and that I will return to play in the final. Then I can forget what happened in the past and create a new memory, because that is football."
The Ballon d'Or or the Champions League?
When asked whether he would be ready to give up the Ballon d'Or in exchange for winning the Champions League, Kane answered in the affirmative, affirming that team trophies remain the most important goal for him.
He said: "I think I would choose the Champions League. I have always said we play for the team's victories. The Ballon d'Or is one of the most beautiful moments of my career and my life, and it is a very special award, but celebrating with my teammates and lifting the Champions League trophy with Bayern would be wonderful."
He continued: "I want to reach the final, win it and enjoy it with the team. I would choose the title, but I could win both."
Contract renewal with Bayern is near
Regarding his future with Bayern Munich, Kane revealed that negotiations over renewing his contract have reached advanced stages, and that an announcement could come within days.
He said: "There are talks, and we negotiated over the weekend. We are very close to an agreement, and only a few small details remain for the lawyers to work on. It is a matter of days, not weeks, and I hope we announce something soon."
He also noted that Spanish football was present in his interests while growing up, recalling the successes of its national team and clubs. However, he affirmed that he is currently happy with his experience at Bayern, and that the opportunity to play in Spain did not come to him at the right time.
Source: Al-Ghad.
