Rio Ferdinand says Harry Kane will have ‘the bit between his teeth’ to down Man United on his way to winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich but backs Erik ten Hag’s defenders to not ‘be complacent’ against him

• Rio Ferdinand believes Harry Kane will be hungry to score against Man United 
• The Red Devils take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off!

Rio Ferdinand has claimed Harry Kane will ‘have the bit between his teeth’ to score against Manchester United in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash. 

Erik ten Hag’s side will travel to the Allianz Arena to take on Bayern Munich as they kick start their European campaign against the German Champions but will come up against the England striker who moved to the club earlier this summer for £100million. 

United had shown an interest in acquiring Kane from Tottenham in the summer, but dropped their interest in signing the 30-year-old, instead choosing to bring in Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £72m. 

Kane, meanwhile, has got off to a flying start for Thomas Tuchel’s side, scoring four goals in four league appearances for his new club. 

And with United back in Champions League action after a year’s absence, former United defender, Ferdinand, who won the European competition with the club back in 2008, backed Kane to be hungry to score as he looks to end his wait for silverware.  

‘I can’t wait. Look at the clubs. Two clubs with huge history,’ Ferdinand said to TNT Sports.

‘The backdrop of Harry Kane being there as well, the England captain, someone who a lot of Man Utd fans would have wanted to come and wear the United shirt.

‘He’s a phenomenal player, his record speaks for itself.

‘Champions League football, he’s been there, he’s produced before, he’s been to a final [in 2019] but never won it. He hasn’t got his hands on any silverware, so the bit will be between his teeth.’

The England captain has not won a trophy throughout his illustrious career, despite breaking some monumental records, including becoming Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer before surpassing Wayne Rooney to become England’s all-time top scorer.

The game comes at an interesting time for Erik ten Hag’s side though, who have endured an underwhelming start to the new Premier League campaign. 

United have played five matches so far this season, losing three of those games, including this weekend’s disappointing 3-1 defeat by Brighton at Old Trafford.

Defensively, the Red Devils were poor on Saturday afternoon, with some former pros, including united legend Peter Schmeichel slamming Lisandro Martinez for his performance, while Gabby Agbonlahor called for Harry Maguire to be recalled to the first team. 

Ten Hag insisted after the match that his side ‘were not in crisis’ after the defeat that left them 13th in the table, while Ferdinand backed United’s defenders not to be complacent against prolific goalscorer, Kane, on Wednesday night.

‘I don’t think there will be anyone in the Man Utd dressing room taking him for granted or being complacent,’ Ferdinand added. 

‘There are some great players in that Bayern Munich team, they have got great pedigree.

‘Man Utd are back in the competition where they want to be.

‘It’s a tough ask, away to Bayern Munich, no matter what year you go there, what team they’ve got. They will give you a tough, tough game. It will be interesting to see how it goes.’

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Hojlund having now made two appearances for United, after arriving at the club with an ongoing back injury this summer. 

Ferdinand’s former team-mate, Gary Neville, has also put forward his views on the club’s recent form, ripping into their summer transfers, claiming that Erik ten Hag’s side should have signed Declan Rice and Kane instead to help them close the gap on Manchester City and Arsenal. 

‘I was worried at the start of the season,’ the Sky Sports pundit said on the Gary Neville Podcast. 

‘There was this feeling Manchester United had got their business done early in the transfer window and that was good, but I was concerned the players they had brought in wouldn’t improve them from last season.

‘I never thought for one second they would challenge Manchester City and Arsenal from the players that they brought in.

‘That would have needed a Harry Kane-type signing or Declan Rice, as an example. They didn’t have the money to do those types of signings.

‘They’re not very good at the moment. There’s no hysteria. I went to the Brighton game as a fan thinking, “Could I be surprised?”

‘You’re always optimistic. I have never walked over that forecourt at Old Trafford and not been optimistic because that’s the job of a football fan going to any ground where you support your team.’

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