Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has acknowledged that Manchester United are enduring a "difficult moment" but he has insisted that the German giants must not underestimate the Red Devils in their Champions League group-stage opener on Wednesday.
Kane was identified as one of Erik ten Hag's primary targets during the summer transfer window, but a proposed switch Old Trafford failed to bear fruit and the striker eventually decided to join Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur for a Bundesliga-record fee of around £100m.
The 30-year-old has since made a bright start to life in Bavaria, scoring four goals in as many Bundesliga matches including a strike in last Friday's 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.
Man United, meanwhile, have experienced a dismal start to the new campaign, losing three of their first five top-flight games for the first time in the Premier League era, including last weekend's disappointing 3-1 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Summer signing Rasmus Hojlund, a £72m addition from Atalanta BC, made his full debut for the Red Devils against Brighton and the 20-year-old was denied his first goal for the club by VAR before being withdrawn just after the hour mark, a decision booed by the Old Trafford faithful as their side were searching for an equaliser.
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Both Kane and Hojlund are set to face off when Bayern welcome Man United to the Allianz Arena for their Group A opener in the Champions League on Wednesday, and despite the latter's below-par start to the season, Bayern's new No.9 is expected a tough contest against a familiar foe.
"[I am expecting] a difficult game," the England captain told Sports Illustrated. "I know Manchester United are having a difficult moment at the moment, but sometimes teams like that are dangerous because they're always looking to come back in a big way.
"We have to be prepared for them and of course we want to get the crowd behind us as early as possible on Wednesday in front of our home crowd and approach the game with a lot of intensity.
"The Champions League is always special and my first game with Bayern Munich will stay with me – so I hope it goes well."
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Kane has praised the work of head coach Thomas Tuchel in the early stages of his career at Bayern, adding: "He's a really good guy and has great ideas about how we want to play and line up.
"Our relationship is good and I think it will continue to develop over time as we get to know each other better. He is one of the top coaches in the world and pushes me – and all the other players – to improve."
Kane has experienced mixed success when playing against Man United with former club Spurs, scoring just five goals in 19 meetings and coming out on the winning side only six times.
However, Bayern will be confident of success on Wednesday as they have put together an exceptional 34-game unbeaten run in the Champions League group stage, winning each of their last 13 home games at this stage in the process – both of which are competition records.
Bayern have also never lost at home against Man United in five previous meetings, including a 3-1 win in their last encounter nine years ago in a quarter-final second-leg tie.
Oliver Thomas
