During Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, striker Harry Kane revealed that he blocked out any distractions, including an attempt by England teammate Jude Bellingham to put him off while taking a crucial penalty. Kane’s successful penalty gave Bayern a 2-1 lead before Vinicius Junior’s late spot-kick equalized for Real Madrid. Reflecting on Bellingham’s actions, Kane stated that he was “in the zone” and focused on the task at hand, ignoring any attempts to unsettle him. Despite Bayern’s failure to secure a victory, Kane remains optimistic about their chances in the second leg, emphasizing the importance of belief and determination.
Kane’s penalty marked his 43rd goal in as many games this season for Bayern, a testament to his impressive form since joining the club from Tottenham last summer. The English striker acknowledged that while the season has had its setbacks, including losing the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, the big games are what motivated his move. Kane highlighted the atmosphere and significance of playing in such high-stakes matches, expressing his belief that winning the Champions League would make for an incredible season.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team has room for improvement despite their comeback draw. Ancelotti acknowledged that Bayern had a strong start, but Real Madrid managed to build momentum and pressure, resulting in Vinicius’ equalizer. The Italian manager also praised Vinicius’ growing understanding of positioning and movement, highlighting his importance to the team.
Looking ahead to the second leg at the Bernabeu next week, Ancelotti anticipates an exciting and open match, emphasizing that anything can happen. Real Madrid will host Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, May 8th.
