Harry Kane warns Bayern: Jose Mourinho will make Real Madrid tougher

Kane worked with Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur and believes the manager played an important role in some of the best football of his career.

"Yes, I love Jose. We had a really good relationship at Tottenham," Kane told Spanish newspaper Marca.

Their time together ended in disappointment, with Mourinho leaving Tottenham shortly before the 2020/21 Carabao Cup final.

"It didn't end the way we wanted it to, and the fact that Jose didn't get the opportunity to manage that final was difficult. It was difficult for me too," Kane said.

The Bayern striker believes Mourinho gave him the freedom to play his natural game, including dropping deeper to help create opportunities.

"I played some of my best football at Tottenham during his time there," Kane said. "I won the Golden Boot and also the award for the most assists in the same year.

"He gave me a lot of freedom to be myself, to play and to drop deep to receive the ball."

Kane also praised Mourinho's tactical knowledge and his ability to understand every aspect of a match.

"As a person, he's someone who understands every detail of the game, whether it's with the ball, without the ball, tactically, with the referee... whatever it is, he understands every situation," Kane said.

"I have a lot of respect for him."

Kane could now come up against Mourinho in the Champions League, with the Portuguese coach in charge of Real Madrid.

The Bayern forward believes Madrid will once again be among the main contenders in Europe and expects Mourinho to get the best from his squad.

"Real have signed some good players, and Mourinho is a great coach who will get the best out of the players he has," Kane said.

"Madrid always have some of the best players in the world, and this year is no different from last year."

Bayern defeated Real in the Champions League last season, but Kane expects another difficult contest if the teams meet again.

"We were better than them last year, but we also know that it was a very difficult tie," he said.

"And with Jose there now, it will be even more difficult."

Kane has not seen Mourinho regularly since leaving Tottenham, but he would welcome the chance to meet his former manager again on the biggest European stage.

"Perhaps we'll face each other in the Champions League this year, and it would be great to see him again," Kane said.