Brendan Rodgers rejected Harry Kane swap idea straight away and gave Jose Mourinho his dues for sparking evolution
Scottish giants Celtic face a date with destiny in the Champions League - and Harry Kane will spearhead Bayern Munich's quest for the last 16.
In the first season of the reformatted Champions League, both the Hoops and Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern qualified for the knockout phase playoffs. Brendan Rodgers would like nothing more than to surprise the six-time European champions and advance in the competition.
Celtic will need to cage Kane to make that happen, and Rodgers has plenty of experience in that sense. Record Sport breaks down what Rodgers has said of the England frontman in the past, including rejecting the idea of a potential trade to sign the superstar.
READ MORE: 'He was top-notch' - Celtic standout set for emotional Harry Kane reunion in Champions League corker
Kane swap snub
With six goals in the Champions League already this season, Kane will give Celtic a run for their money when the two teams meet in Glasgow on Wednesday. And former Liverpool and Leicester City boss Rodgers is accustomed to attempting to limit the forward's fortunes.
It was early on during Rodgers' days with the Foxes that he was asked whether he would swap Kane for Leicester legend Jamie Vardy. But the Northern Irishman was resolute in sticking by his man.
"Harry is a top, top player, but I wouldn't swap Jamie," he said while at the King Power Stadium in 2019. "I have worked closely with Jamie for some time now and there are not many in world football you would swap him for.
"He's just got this incredible knack in terms of pressing the game and reading the game, and tactically he is so good.
"He has that hunger and that appetite, desire and speed to get in behind and stretch the game and score. I like that kind of striker."
'He's got every tool'
Rodgers, 52, has been gushing in his praise of Kane over the years, once admitting that he "loves watching him play." That is, unless he was facing off against one of his teams, of course.
The Celtic chief has also hailed the striker for "how he's improved and how he's developed" over the years. And that extends to Kane - who has 28 goals and 10 assists in 28 appearances for Bayern this season - developing his game to become more all-rounded.
"He has absolutely everything. He's a world-class player," Rodgers told the Leicester Mercury in 2023. "It's not just the consistency. He's been relentless. It's not by accident.
"It's hard work on the training field. He's got every tool that you would want as a top striker. He scores goals, he links the game, he's tough, he's mentally strong. He's a brilliant player, a great leader."
Mourinho's modification
Further to that point about developing one's game, Rodgers has credited one of his former mentors with being critical in Kane's growth. In December 2020, Rodgers commented on the Tottenham icon adopting a less advanced role and thriving because of it.
However, what's most notable is the fact he lauded Jose Mourinho - who he worked under at Chelsea - for seizing that opportunity.
And it certainly doesn't appear to have harmed Kane's career as he continues to deliver special figures up front season after season.
Rodgers discussed Kane's transition into a deeper role and whether Mourinho had restricted the player's contributions by doing so: "I don't think anything has been taken away from his game. I think Jose has asked him to drop that little bit deeper and I think it's his natural intelligence.
"In Harry you can see he's a wonderful player, he's got a great football brain. You see him dropping underneath and having that ability to make those passes. So it's an addition to how they play rather than something taken away from them."
For his part, Kane enjoys the increased involvement he has by dropping deeper and told the official Champions League website: "I like to be able to be involved in the game a lot more than, maybe, other No9s. I like to come and drop deep and link play. I like to be able to hold the ball up when the team is under pressure.
"A No9 is going to be judged on goals and how many they score, but I think it's important when you're not scoring goals that you still bring an impact to the team, and that's what I try to do, both with and without the ball."
