Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane remains uncertain for their Champions League match against Aston Villa on Wednesday, as coach Vincent Kompany noted that the Bundesliga leaders are aiming to savor the experience regardless of his potential absence.
Kane had an impressive performance in Bayern’s opener, scoring four goals in a 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb, setting a record for the most goals by a single team in a Champions League game. However, he was unable to take a shot during their recent 1-1 draw against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and picked up an injury from a late knock.
“Harry trained today, and everything went well. But we need to wait and see until tomorrow to ensure that everything remains stable,” Kompany said at a Tuesday press conference. “Then we can calmly make the right decision. Hopefully, all goes well.”
The Bayern coach anticipates a challenging match against Unai Emery’s formidable Aston Villa side, which is currently enjoying strong form in the Premier League.
“Everyone knows it’s been over 40 years since Aston Villa last participated in the European Cup. Their achievements last season were extraordinary, and they’ve certainly earned this moment,” Kompany remarked. “They are a well-organized team with a great home atmosphere. However, Bayern is accustomed to these types of matches. We want to enjoy it, and hopefully, the players are excited to play here.”
GNABRY OPTIMISTIC
Forward Serge Gnabry, who has previous experience playing for Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion before moving to Germany, expressed enthusiasm about returning to England.
“England holds a special place for me. The atmosphere in the historic stadiums is incredible,” Gnabry stated. “Football is often the centerpiece for people here, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match. It’ll be Villa’s first Champions League home game in many years, and the atmosphere will be electric.”
Bayern aims to maintain their strong form in what will be the second meeting between the two teams, with Villa having triumphed 1-0 in the 1982 European Cup final, securing their only major European title.
“Aston Villa is undoubtedly a very good team that has been consistent and plays with physicality,” Gnabry noted. “It will be a demanding and tough match. They also defend very effectively, so it won’t be easy.”
He added, “The coach emphasizes the need for drive and high intensity so we can limit our opponent’s opportunities. That’s the focus for us right now. It feels great to be dominant again, something we struggled with in recent years. The more dominant we are, the more chances we create, leading to more goals. It’s a lot of fun for us in attack right now.”