Bayern Munich star Harry Kane ‘loves’ Real Madrid coach José Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (L) and Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Harry Kane react at the final whistle during the UEFA Europa League 1st round Group J football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Antwerp at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 10, 2

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What is the story about?

Harry Kane is playing some of his best football under Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich, but he hasn’t forgotten a highly accomplished manager he played under at Tottenham Hotspur: José Mourinho, whom he still thinks fondly of.

“Yes, I love José. We had a really good relationship at Tottenham,” Kane said in an interview with Spanish news outlet Marca (as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, and the fact that José didn’t get the opportunity to manage that final

[2020/21 Carabao Cup final] was difficult. It was difficult for me too. But yes, I had a very good relationship with him.

“I played some of my best football at Tottenham during his time there. I won the Golden Boot and also the award for the most assists in the same year. He gave me a lot of freedom to be myself, to play and to drop deep to receive the ball. And I think, as a person, he’s someone who understands every detail of the game, whether it’s with the ball, without the ball, tactically, with the referee… whatever it is, he understands every situation. I have a lot of respect for him. It’s true that we haven’t seen much of each other since he left Tottenham, but perhaps we’ll face each other in the Champions League this year, and it would be great to see him again.”

When Kane was asked if Real is a threat to Bayern in the Champions League, the 33-year-old acknowledged the Spaniards’ ability: “I’d say so. Real have signed some good players, and Mourinho is a great coach who will get the best out of the players he has. Madrid always have some of the best players in the world, and this year is no different from last year. We know there’s a good chance we could face them later in the competition. In the Champions League, Madrid are always going to be there in the latter stages. We were better than them last year, but we also know that it was a very difficult tie. And with José there now, it will be even more difficult.”