Harry Kane has sent a Champions League “war” warning to Jude Bellingham ahead of Bayern Munich’s semi-final showdown with Real Madrid.
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German giants sent Arsenal packingBlancos saw off Manchester CityEpic last-four encounter lined upWHAT HAPPENED?
The two England international team-mates helped their respective sides into the last four of elite European competition when downing Premier League opposition. Bayern battled their way past Kane’s former north London rivals Arsenal, while Real held their nerve in a penalty shootout with Manchester City.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT KANE SAID
Prolific Bayern marksman Kane, with 39 goals to his name this season, will now line up against Bellingham in an epic semi-final encounter with plenty riding on it. The England captain has said of that contest: “Jude has had a fantastic season, he’s a top player. I’m really happy for him but it will be another war against his team – but that’s the experiences that we both went abroad to try to achieve, to play in these big nights in the Champions League, to play in these big semi-finals. It will be one to enjoy and I’m sure there will be a lot of English fans watching both of us. We have to focus on ourselves. Of course, I’ll say hello but once we’re on the pitch, it’s business.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Kane and Bellingham are hoping to book a date in the familiar surroundings of Wembley Stadium on June 1, with the Champions League final heading to London. Kane added on a bid to face either Borussia Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain at the home of English football: “With Wembley being our national stadium, it’s extra motivation there for us but there are two games ahead of us before that, which are going to be really tough so we have to focus on that. Real Madrid are a big club with amazing history in the Champions League so it’s going to be a really difficult game for us. But that’s what the semi-finals of the Champions League are all about, the biggest teams, so we enjoy this and then prepare for that game in a couple of weeks.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Bellingham has already won the Spanish Super Cup this season, and has helped Real to the top of the Liga table, but Kane is still waiting on elusive major silverware and knows that the Champions League provides his last shot at bringing that barren run to a close at club level in 2024.
