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.
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."
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