Simeone praises ‘incredible’ Kane before Atletico Madrid face Bayern Munich

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has praised Harry Kane as an outstanding role model for young footballers ahead of Bayern Munich’s Champions League visit on Tuesday.

Kane, who recently won the Ballon d’Or, is expected to lead Bayern’s attack against Atletico. Simeone believes the England captain’s experience has helped him reach his best form while preserving the instinct in front of goal that makes him one of Europe’s most dangerous strikers.

“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate him on his well-deserved Ballon d’Or. It’s incredible – I’ve always admired him,” Simeone said.

Simeone also pointed to Kane’s wider contribution to the game, saying the striker’s influence extends beyond his goalscoring.

“As he’s matured over the years, he’s found his best form without losing his eye for goal; he knows what the team needs,” he added.

“His talent is a real asset to the game and to the young players who look up to him, because he leaves a legacy showing that you can achieve great things through hard work,” Simeone said.

Atletico will approach the match in strong domestic form. They have won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions, while their most recent result was a 2-1 La Liga victory against city rivals Real Madrid.

That win also extended Atletico’s unbeaten run to nine games.

Their Champions League campaign has been less convincing, however. Simeone’s side are 16th in the standings with four points from their opening three matches.

Bayern are one point above them in 14th place, although they arrive in Madrid having drawn their last two European fixtures.

Simeone said maintaining consistency would be vital if Atletico are to continue their recent progress.

“Finding that balance and consistency is the hardest part, and it’s what all of us coaches want,” he said.

“We need to enjoy the run and approach it with enthusiasm as we move forward.”