Harry Kane puts team goals first as Bayern target Champions League

PARIS: Harry Kane’s shift from individual milestones to collective success has become a defining feature of Bayern Munich’s push for major honours, as the German side prepares for its Champions League semi-final against holders Paris Saint-Germain.

The first leg will be played in the French capital on Tuesday, with the winner of the tie expected to be among the leading contenders for the final in Budapest in May.

Kane has already ended his long wait for team silverware since joining Bayern. The England captain, now 31, won the first team trophy of his career with last season’s Bundesliga title and has followed it up with another league crown this season.

His numbers have again been exceptional. The former Tottenham striker has scored 53 goals in 45 matches in all competitions this season, a tally described as the highest by an English player in any league in almost 100 years. But beyond the figures, his goals have also arrived in decisive moments.

Against Real Madrid in the quarter-final, Kane scored the winner with a long-range effort in the first leg in Madrid. In the return match, his first-half goal levelled the game on the night and put Bayern ahead in a tie that had begun to slip away.

Kane prioritises European success

Kane left English football with 47 goals still separating him from Alan Shearer’s Premier League scoring record, despite debate over why he would move abroad with that landmark still within reach. His time at Tottenham had led some to associate him more with personal records than team trophies, but his role at Bayern has underlined a broader commitment to the side’s overall objectives.

At Bayern, where attacking quality is spread across the team, Kane has often dropped deeper to support the build-up, including in midfield areas. That willingness to place team needs above personal achievements has also been visible in recent weeks.

After Bayern defeated Borussia Dortmund in February, Kane had scored braces in four straight matches. With 30 goals in 24 league games at that stage, he appeared to be on course to challenge Robert Lewandowski’s single-season Bundesliga record of 41. Since then, however, he has started only one of Bayern’s last seven league fixtures, with coach Vincent Kompany preserving him for the club’s European campaign.

After coming off the bench in Bayern’s 4-3 comeback win over Mainz on Saturday, having helped the team recover from three goals down, Kane made clear where his priorities lie.

“It'll be tough,” Kane said of chasing down Lewandowski's record. “Obviously I'm here to try and win the Champions League and try and win the German Cup. So, ultimately that takes priority. All I can do is when I'm on the pitch, try and score, try and impact the game.”

Bayern confidence high before PSG test

Bayern had been expected to beat Mainz, but the manner of the second-half turnaround reflected the side’s determination ahead of the trip to Paris. Sporting director Christoph Freund praised the squad’s mentality after the match.

“This team is truly something special -- that team spirit, that mentality -- it is truly unique,”

Freund said, adding,

“That gives us a tremendous amount of energy for Tuesday.”

Kane also acknowledged the scale of the challenge against PSG, describing the French side as worthy titleholders.

“The reigning European champions for a reason,”

he said, adding that PSG are “a really strong side with some great quality and are well-coached. There's going to be a lot of activity. It's going to come down to moments and quality.”

Bayern will have to manage the opening leg without Kompany on the touchline, as the coach is suspended. His assistant, Aaron Danks, will take charge from the dugout.

Kane said the team was sufficiently prepared to cope with Kompany’s absence during the match.

“Of course we'll miss him on the sideline. He's our boss and our leader. But everyone knows what needs to be done, even if the boss isn't on the sideline.”

Bayern have lost only twice in all competitions this season and head into the semi-final with momentum, silverware already secured domestically, and their leading striker focused firmly on the club’s biggest remaining targets.