HARRY KANE could be robbed of a Champions League fairytale this year unless Bayern Munich learn to defend better, according to Owen Hargreaves.
This season’s final will be staged at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday May 31, 2025.
GettyHarry Kane looks on while playing for Bayern Munich[/caption]
The last time the Bavaria venue held the showpiece occasion was back in 2012 but Munich lost on penalties that night to a Didier Drogba-inspired Chelsea.
The Bundesliga leaders are in 15th place in the expanded 36-team Champions League table, having conceded 11 goals in seven games, including three at Feyenoord last week.
While England captain and Munich striker Kane, 31, could fire them through the knockout phases, their defence is clearly an issue and needs tightening up under new boss Vincent Kompany.
Hargreaves, 44, played for seven seasons in the Munich first team and was in the starting XI when they beat Valencia on penalties at Milan’s San Siro in the 2001 Champions League final.
Speaking on behalf of TNT Sports to promote watching live sport in pubs, the ex-England midfielder said: “It’s that old adage in American sports – defence wins championships.
“I think it’s true. You have got to defend well.
“Bayern are easily one of the most talented teams in the competition. Possession-wise, shots-wise, they are right at the top.
“But the only problem is they play such an aggressive style. They press really aggressively.
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“We saw it in their defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park. We saw in the 3-0 loss at Feyenoord. There is space if you play quickly over the top, to counter them.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a team win the Champions League being that open at the back.
“Even Pep Guardiola, with the brilliant football he plays, had to evolve to win the Champions League and played with four centre backs.
“Bayern could win it but they have got to be a bit tidier at the back.
“Bayern approach the game now under Kompany in a super aggressive way, and they score goals.”
Hargreaves – a European football analyst for TNT Sports – joined Bayern as a 16-year-old and won four league titles before moving to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2007.
He added: “There’s pressure at a club like Bayern, you are expected to win every game. I am talking about literally every game. Every Saturday, every Wednesday.
“They know they are not the best team in the Champions League. They proved that against Feyenoord.
“Even though they have one of the most talented squads, they are not favourites. Liverpool are the favourites.
“Then you’ve got Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester City if they can defend better. There are a lot of teams in that bracket below Liverpool.
“Bayern could do it. If they get the balance right.
“It will be interesting to see if Vincent tweaks it a bit for the knockout stages.
“The style puts a lot of pressure on the centre-backs, Kim (Min-jae) and (Dayot) Upamecano, to get it right all of the time.
“One mistake is costly and you are out. I think they can win it if they tweak the way they are playing.”
Owen Hargreaves was speaking on behalf of TNT Sports about enjoying Champions League midweek football in your local pub. To find out where you can watch, please visit tntsports.co.uk/pubfinder/
C1 MEDIAOwen Hargreaves was speaking on behalf of TNT Sports[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
