Bayern Munich's Harry Kane: "This club needs to be winning titles"
Bayern Munich superstar Harry Kane took to the Bundesliga like a duck to water in 2023/24, finishing as the division's top goalscorer with a record haul for a debutant. bundesliga.com spoke to the 30-year-old about his stunning maiden campaign and what he is expecting this time around...
bundesliga.com: How would you sum up your first season at Bayern?
Harry Kane: "I think it was a really good season. I scored more goals than I have before in any other league campaign and I managed some good assists as well. However, there was a feeling of not winning the Bundesliga or any cups that has left me - and I think the team - hungry this term to be successful and get those trophies back."
bundesliga.com: After the lack of trophies you mentioned, how important is it to have a strong start this time around?
Kane: "I think it was important to win the first game on Sunday. Last year showed that in any season, any team can have an amazing year and you have to be at the top of your game to beat anyone. Winning is not easy, and you have to produce a high level for a long period of time to be the champions. Ultimately, whoever lifts the trophy deserves it. That's our aim and we feel like we're in a good place right now. We feel we will improve as the season goes on but hopefully we can get off to a good start in both the cup and the league."
bundesliga.com: You have a new head coach in Vincent Kompany. What are his goals, as well as your own, for 2024/25?
Kane: "From a personal point of view, I want to continue at a high level and improve. Every year, I try and get better and look at ways I can do that. That's no different this time around. From a team point of view, we want to win titles. This club needs to be winning titles, and I think there's a real hunger and desire with the new coach here to do that. He's brought a great energy to the team."
bundesliga.com: Can you describe the new energy you mentioned?
Kane: "He's brought his own style to the team and into the dressing room. He's really respected from his playing career, which wasn't too long ago, so a lot of the squad remember him and have played against him - like myself. He's also clear in what he wants and how he wants to play, to be aggressive without the ball. Also with the ball, he wants to be aggressive and, from a player's point of view, that's great to hear. Training is at a high intensity at the moment, and I think it's only the beginning. We're going to improve, we're going to get better as the season goes on and we're just looking forward to it."
bundesliga.com: Bayern have also signed a couple of players who you are already familiar with in João Paulinha and Michael Olise – they were opponents of yours in England. What can they add to this already strong team?
Kane: "They are two fantastic players, first and foremost. They suit our system really well. Palhinha is an animal in that defensive midfield role. I've had many battles against him and he tackles, he intercepts, he reads the game really well. He's a great addition, and then Michael's talent speaks for itself. His ability on the ball is fantastic, the way he moves, the way he weaves in and out of players, and his final product is at a high, high level. He's still very young, so he still has time to improve too. All in all, they are great additions, which improves our motivation and competition for places."
bundesliga.com: After scoring 45 goals in 46 games last season and 38 the season before, how do you keep playing at such a high level? Is it down to training or natural ability?
Kane: "Training for sure. To be consistent at this level, you have to be mentally sharp and be able to deal with the ups and the downs. Physically, too, I feel in a really good place. I know my body as well as ever and I know when to push and when to recover. I'm probably in the best shape both physically and mentally of my my whole career and that's exciting. I feel like I've got many more years to come."
Watch: Every Harry Kane goal in the Bundesliga
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bundesliga.com: Thirty-six of your 45 goals from last term came in the Bundesliga. Which one was your favourite?
Kane: "I'd probably say the one from my own half at the Allianz Arena [in the 8-0 victory over Darmstadt]. I've tried to score from that far out quite a lot in my career, so it was nice to see it come off. It was a special goal."
bundesliga.com: What makes the Bundesliga so special?
Kane: "The teams and the fans. I've been blown away by the support, not just at Bayern but across the country. The atmosphere is always bouncing, it's loud, and I've been really impressed with that. It makes every game difficult - you go away from home and you know the fans are going to be against you. We saw that in the first game of the season against Wolfsburg. I'm loving that aspect of it and I'm sure they're appreciating me being here in Germany as well.”
bundesliga.com: Those goals also won you the European Golden Shoe for the first time in your career. What does that award mean to you?
Kane: "It's something I'm extremely proud of. I didn't know what to expect when I came here to this great club. I got into a good rhythm and confidence was high. To finish as the top goalscorer in Europe is obviously special. As a striker, you're judged on scoring goals mainly, so it's a great achievement that I should enjoy."
Watch: Harry Kane collects Golden Shoe
bundesliga.com: You and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are now the only players to finish as top goalscorer in both the Bundesliga and the English Premier League. How hard is it to continue scoring goals in leagues that are so different?
Kane: "Both leagues bring something different. It's just about trying to adapt to each situation and each team, which I feel is something I have done well throughout my whole career. It goes back to that hard work and self-belief, plus plenty of hours practicing and improving. I'm extremely proud of what I've achieved so far in the Bundesliga, but I want to push on from that and go even further."
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