Erik ten Hag makes blunt Harry Kane statement as Andre Onana addresses AFCON plans

Erik ten Hag has addressed Manchester United’s failed pursuit of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane after the Englishman left Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

The two European heavyweights will face up against each other in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, however, Ten Hag’s side are coming into the game as the underdogs following a slow start to the season.

United have won just two of their opening five Premier League fixtures and so will be eager to show a fighting spirit at the Allianz Arena this week.

It is no secret that Ten Hag wanted to bring Harry Kane to Old Trafford in the summer but after complications with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy as well as the amount it would cost to prise away the 31-year-old to join a fellow Premier League club, United moved onto other targets.

It was 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund who eventually joined the club and the United manager is confident in the Danish striker’s ability.

Asked if he regrets not signing Kane, who will be facing United this week, Ten Hag simply replied: ‘”No.”

The United manager added: “We are happy with Rasmus [Hojlund]. Obviously the first games he was injured. He played against Arsenal and Brighton. He is a big talent and he will contribute to our game. We are confident about that.”

Meanwhile, Ten Hag was alongside goalkeeper Andre Onana in the pre-match press conference for the Bayern Munich claash, who joined the club from Inter Milan this summer.

The no.24 played for Cameroon during the latest international break for the first time since he left the international squad during the 2022 World Cup, where it appeared that he played his last game for his country.

After securing qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which is set to be played at the beginning of next year, Onana was questioned about whether he would accept the call-up.

“If I’m called up, we don’t know if I will, let’s see what is going to happen in the next month,” he stated. “We are here to play against Bayern, it’s an important game for us and the most important thing.”