Harry Kane is one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. Yet Viking Stavanger doesn’t seem too worried about the English goal-scorer. Ahead of the Champions League matchup against FC Bayern, defender Henrik Falchener spoke surprisingly calmly about the 33-year-old. He even described Kane as a fairly ordinary striker.
On Tuesday evening, the German record champions will play on the road in Norway. The Munich offense poses a major challenge for the hosts. Kane, in particular, is the focus of attention; after all, the England national team captain has been one of Europe’s most prolific scorers for years.
Falchener, however, does not intend to let the Bayern star’s qualities intimidate him. At the pre-game press conference, the Viking pro made it clear that his team is well prepared.
“We’re all just human beings.”
When asked how he viewed the upcoming matchup with Kane, Falchener responded with a remarkable statement. “Harry Kane is a very good player, but we’re all just human. You have to keep in mind that he’s a pretty ordinary striker, even if he’s among the best in that position,” the defender explained.
This statement is likely to surprise some Bayern fans. After all, since his move to Munich, Kane has impressively proven that he is far more than a classic center forward.
Falchener emphasized, however, that the Norwegians had studied the English striker extensively. “We’ve watched the videos and know what to expect, what he’s good at, and what we need to avoid when facing him,” the Viking pro explained.
Accordingly, the hosts plan to give the Bayern striker as little space as possible and specifically limit his strengths.
Better Kane than Haaland
Things got even more interesting when Falchener was asked to compare Kane with Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
The Viking defender made it clear that the two world-class strikers differ significantly in their playing styles.
“They’re different types of players. Haaland is incredibly big, fast, and strong physically. Kane is a bit more technical. He drops deeper and is more involved in the game. And he’s also pretty dangerous in front of the goal,” Falchener analyzed.
When asked which of the two forwards he personally would find more difficult to play against, the Norwegian was clear. “Personally, I think I’d be better off facing Kane than Haaland. When Haaland turns on the turbo, he’s gone.”
Falchener thus sees his compatriot’s tremendous speed and physicality as a particular challenge.
Kane wants to respond on the field
For the Bayern striker, the comments from his upcoming opponent are likely to provide additional motivation. In recent years, Kane has consistently demonstrated that he can play a decisive role not only as a finisher but also as a playmaker.
It’s precisely his ability to drop back into midfield and set up teammates that makes him difficult for opposing defenses to read.
Viking Stavanger will therefore have to try to limit both Kane’s finishing ability and his involvement in Munich’s passing game.
Whether Falchener will still describe him as a fairly ordinary striker after this head-to-head matchup remains to be seen on Tuesday evening.