February 17, (THEWILL) – Bayern Munich manager, Vincent Kompany, remains optimistic regarding Harry Kane’s availability for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Celtic, despite the striker’s absence from training. The England international sustained minor discomfort during Saturday’s goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Speaking at Monday’s press conference, Kompany addressed Kane’s condition: “Definitely nothing bad. We have just had very little time to recover and sometimes you need an extra day.” The 38-year-old manager indicated that a final decision on Kane’s participation would be made on Tuesday morning before the match in Munich.
The incident occurred when Kane collided with Piero Hincapie’s shoulder during the first half of the Leverkusen match, requiring medical attention. The defensive display from Bayern Munich saw Kane and fellow attackers dropping deeper than usual to maintain a clean sheet, preserving Bayern’s eight-point advantage at the summit of the Bundesliga table.
Speaking ahead of the tie, Bayern midfielder Jamal Musiala said: “None of us want to have excuses. We are using the days to prepare well for the game, then we have to give it our all. We are fresh and will give it everything tomorrow.” The German champions hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg at Celtic Park, where Kane found the net.
The Bavarian side maintains an impressive home record in European competition, having avoided defeat at the Allianz Arena in the UCL since April 2021. Kompany acknowledged both teams’ capabilities, noting: “Celtic are always dangerous, but so are we. It is a home game, we will look to make that play to our advantage.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
