- Tuchel vows not to underestimate Red Devils
- Bayern must start on front foot – Kane
- Kane defends England teammate Maguire
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel and their former Spurs forward Harry Kane are both taking the challenge of Manchester United seriously. Erik ten Hag’s side have made a disappointing start to the season, however, both Tuchel and Kane have both been keen to point out that the Red Devils possess an abundance of quality and that Bayern are expecting a difficult match in their Champions League Group A opener.
Bayern will host United on Wednesday in a repeat of the 1999 Champions League final. Kane also used the pre-game conference as an opportunity to give a vote of confidence to his underfire England colleague, Harry Maguire.
Tuchel will not underestimate Red Devils
Speaking at the pre-match press conference the former Chelsea and PSG head coach was adamant that the Bundesliga champions cannot underestimate the three-time European champions.
Tuchel said: “I really think Bayern Munich against Manchester United is a big game. Two big European clubs playing each other in the Champions League. We are proud to be part of it and we want to play our part so the fans can enjoy it,
“There is always a lot of noise around Manchester United. A lot of pundits in the UK are from Manchester United. You have a legacy from Alex Ferguson which creates expectations around the club.
“All of us, me in Bayern and my colleague at Man Utd, want to achieve the same things. It is pretty common at Man Utd that little things become a bit bigger or the talking is a bit noisier.
“From what I know, they have a coaching environment where players can grow. That is what we do, to instil principles and rules to create a winning culture.
“For me it is evident to see the way I see Man Utd play. The results maybe don’t but it is a team full of quality and we will never underestimate them.”
Kane shows respect for “dangerous” Man United
Kane, who was rumoured to be a Manchester United transfer target, left Spurs for Bayern this summer. And the England captain, who has settled into the Bayern team well, has been keen to point out that he and his new teammates face a stern test. The Red Devils may have suffered back-to-back defeats and three losses in their first five Premier League matches of the season, but Kane, who has already started contributing goals and assists for his new employers, stated that it could be a “dangerous” time to play Ten Hag’s side.
Speaking at the pre-match news conference he said: “They’ve been going through a tough spell recently but sometimes that can make a team dangerous because they want to respond.
“We’re at home and want to control the game but we need to be careful of their threat. I don’t think about form because every game can be different.
“There can be big response from teams going through a difficult spell but we need to start on the front foot.
“They are a threat on the counter with quick players but overall we want to dominate and hopefully we can break them down as the game goes on.”
On Maguire, who has come in for a huge amount of criticism in recent times, Kane went on to say: “I think H [Harry Maguire] has come under some unnecessary scrutiny,
“He has probably been scapegoated a bit. He is a really good friend of mine, a great guy and a really hard working professional.
“He has been one of England’s best defenders over recent times and in England’s history.
“It is part of football, you are scrutinised. Knowing him, he will just want to work hard and improve. We are fully behind him as a national team.”
Betting Implications
Tuchel and Kane have been extremely respectful and professional with regard to their opponents Manchester United. However, Bayern are clear favourites, though bettors who are looking for a punt on the game need to recognise that Man United have underperformed this season and have a number of quality players who will want to make a point. It should also be noted that Ten Hag’s side made a slow start last season before going on to finish third, win the EFL Cup and reach the FA Cup final.
A trip to Bayern Munich is a daunting prospect for any team though, so while the Red Devils should not be written off, punters must not underestimate the size of their task, especially when they are yet to hit their rhythm this season. At the time of writing, bet365 have Bayern priced at 1/2, with United 5/1 and a draw 7/2.
Check out the UK’s best UEFA Champions League betting sites and the best football bookmakers for the British market at Betting.com.
