Bundesliga

HARRY KANE may be the Englishman most fans focus on when German football’s biggest rivalry is rekindled on Saturday night.But as far as Borussia Dortmund supporters are concerned, Jamie Gittens deserves all the attention.Jamie Gittens is already close to world class, says Karl-Heinz RiedleCredit: RexRaal Madrid’s Jude Bellingham might ultimately be usurped by GittensCredit: GettyFormer Dortmund Champions League winner Karl-Heinz Riedle believes Gittens can be the best English star to play for the club yetCredit: GettyThe winger from Reading was 17 when he walked out on Manchester City to join Dortmund in 2020, following Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho’s Bundesliga footsteps.Now, the 20-year-old is a vital cog in new coach Nuri Sahin’s side, with four Champions League goals so far — including one against Real Madrid and Wednesday’s stunner at Dinamo Zagreb.Dortmund legend Karl-Heinz Riedle feels Gittens can shine in Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich.Ex-Liverpool striker Riedle, 59, said: “Jamie is still not 100 per cent what we expect from a world-class player  — but he has all the talent to become one of those.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS“He can become the next Sancho, Erling Haaland or Bellingham.“He is very quick, very good in a one-against-one situation and with the ability to finish as well.“I see a young player who has the full package, plus he is someone who I see working on how  to make himself better.“And that comes from games — the more you play, the more you learn, the better your decision-making and  better you become.Most read in BundesligaChelsea loanee Jadon Sancho has struggled to match his Dortmund formCredit: RexFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“The most important thing is  you have to be quick, to not be afraid of going one- on-one against a defender. That’s what we want to see.“It was why Sancho and Haaland brought people to the stadium. Jude Bellingham says he feels like a ‘scapegoat’ as he discusses England woes”Fans wanted to see them do that and it’s there with Jamie as well.”Gittens — who dropped the “Bynoe” in  his double-barrelled surname  at the start of the season — has  played for every England  team from Under-15 to U21.That includes tasting 2022 European U19 Cham­pion­ship glory. Now he aims to make the final step to the senior ranks — and Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as new Three Lions boss could speed that up.Riedle suspects Gittens will not be the last English rookie to see the Ruhr-based club as a stepping stone.He  explained: “Dortmund is a family. The guys who come to us   know we have everything here to let them become the best players they can be.“They can get a chance to play at the top level but maybe with less pressure than in England at football clubs such as Manchester United and City.“We give them the time to grow into players and be something special.“Jamie is an incredible talent and can make the same impression — if not a bigger one – as Jude and Jadon made before him.”Striker Kane has hit 50 Bundesliga goals in 43 games — the fastest pace ever.Despite this and Munich’s unbeaten domestic start, the England skipper was criticised by ex-Bayern and Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann for not scoring in the  “big” games.Riedle, though, thinks Hamann is talking rubbish.He said: “Didi criticised him even though he scored like crazy last year — and I’m not with him at all.“Harry’s just a fantastic finisher and fantastic football player.“No player can score every game or every chance. He has done very well for Munich and is incredible.READ MORE SUN STORIES“He just wants to play football. He loves the game. He is such a humble guy who likes to play and score and wants to win things.” KARL-HEINZ RIEDLE was speaking to mark the ten-year anniversary of Borussia Dortmund’s long-term investment in Singapore.Riedle was stunned by criticism of Bayern’s Harry KaneCredit: RexErling Haaland is one of the aces who Gittens could soon compare withCredit: Rex More

A FAN who died following a medical emergency while attending Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Benfica has been named as a former international football manager.Romain Jean was the former manager of Luxembourg women’s national football team.Former Luxembourg women’s coach Romain Jean died after a heart attackCredit: by Roland MinyThe German club announced he died on the way to hospital after suffering a heart attack.Jean had received emergency medical treatment in the Allianz Arena shortly after kick-off, which had been delayed by 15 minutes due to a signal box malfunction at Odeonsplatz metro station.He was initially resuscitated multiple times by first aiders before being transported to the hospital under intensive care.However, one hour after the final whistle, the club were informed that Jean had passed away.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA club statement said: “In the Champions League league phase match against Benfica, FC Bayern’s 1-0 victory was overshadowed by a sad occasion. “A medical emergency in the stands of the Allianz Arena cast a shadow over the game right from the start. “Out of consideration, the Südkurve (Bayern ultras) refrained from its usual vociferous support for their team, and the club also reduced its coverage of the match.”Around an hour after the final whistle, the German record champions received the sad news that the fan had died on the way to hospital. Most read in Football”FC Bayern is in mourning side by side with the fan’s relatives.”Manager Vincent Kompany also paid tribute when speaking after the game.He said: “We didn’t celebrate much after the game,” while also revealing that players only learned of Jean’s death when returning to the dressing room.Jean served as the Luxembourg women’s team coach from 2006 to 2012.Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said: “There are definitely more important things in life than football.” More

A BAYERN Munich fan tragically passed away after a medical emergency in the crowd during their Champions League win over Benfica.The individual required medical assistance just three minutes into the match at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.They were taken away on a stretcher around 30 minutes later and passed away while being rushed to hospital.Bayern fans in the part of the ground where the medical emergency took place – the Sudkurve – stopped singing for much of the match out of respect for the supporter.A statement from the Bundesliga club read: “In the Champions League league phase match against Benfica, FC Bayern’s 1-0 victory was overshadowed by a sad event.”A medical emergency in the stands of the Allianz Arena cast a shadow over the game right from the start.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Out of consideration, the Sudkurve refrained from its usual vociferous support for their team, and the club also reduced its coverage of the match.”Around an hour after the final whistle, the German record champions received the sad news that the fan had died on the way to hospital.”FC Bayern is in mourning side by side with the fan’s relatives.”Bayern won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Jamal Musiala.Most read in Champions LeagueAfter the match, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany spoke about the medical emergency.He said: “It’s difficult to talk about football at the moment.”After the game, we didn’t celebrate as much as we normally do. Of course, the boys only noticed it after the game.”We always hope that our fans and all of them go home safe and sound. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case today.”And forward Thomas Muller added: “We noticed it, how and wherefore. I think we saw right before kick-off what would have been possible in terms of atmosphere.”The whole group in the south curve was jumping. But of course, when something like that happens, it’s also a nice sign of solidarity that the fans don’t put their own party first, but show a bit of humanity.”The fan was taken away on a stretcher but died on the way to the hospitalCredit: AP More