Harry Kane has said he is still motivated by proving his critics wrong but admitted Bayern Munich‘s season will be a failure if they cannot win the Champions League.
Bayern host Arsenal in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, second leg at the Allianz Arena with the tie evenly poised at 2-2 from last week’s first game.
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Kane began his youth career at Arsenal but was released by the club aged nine and has previously spoken about the impact it had on his career, saying it instilled a determination to push himself that contributed to a record of 15 goals in 20 games against the north London club.
The 30-year-old became the all-time record goalscorer in north London derbies before leaving Tottenham for Bayern last summer in a deal worth up to €120 million ($128m).
When asked at a news conference on Tuesday if he still felt the same determination to prove Arsenal wrong, Kane said: “I think it was one of the biggest games of the season for pretty much my whole career, we played them at least twice a year for the last 10 years and it was always a big occasion, big moment.
“Maybe it was in the back of the mind, being released from a young age, and there’s always a point to prove — I’m the type of player who, throughout my career, has had points to prove along the way. I don’t think that ever leaves you. I think it’ll always be in my DNA until I retire.
“There’ll always be a reason to prove someone wrong or to prove to myself I can do something, so I don’t think specifically back to that and think ‘I was released when I was 9 years old, I really have to make a difference tomorrow.’
“Now I’m here at Bayern Munich it’s just about being a top team in the Champions League. Of course I have history with them [Arsenal], but all I can do is try and help Bayern Munich qualify for the semifinal of the Champions League.”
