‘I feel so sorry for him’ – No Kane, no gain for Bayern
- Discover how Harry Kane’s absence impacts Bayern Munich’s Champions League journey.
Bayern Munich was going to the Champions League final while Harry Kane was playing. They never were and never will be when he isn’t around.
Kane was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in the 85th minute of the match against Real Madrid. The England captain had spearheaded Bayern’s assault at that point, and they were heading to Wembley with a one-goal lead.
The substitution has been identified as the pivotal moment, despite the fact that there are other elements at play as well, such as Madrid’s natural propensity to win important European games even when all appears lost and Manuel Neuer’s mistake that allowed Joselu to score his first of a spectacular late double.
It also perfectly captures the essence of Bayern’s 2023–24 campaign, which has seen them appear lost without Kane. And now, Kane has nothing to show for his first season at Bayern.
“He fulfilled his duties. Rio Ferdinand, the Champions League winner, told TNT Sports, “He has scored the goals.”
They encouraged him to keep receiving awards, and in my opinion, the others have disappointed him the most. I believe that tonight will be difficult for him.”
While Kane was chasing his first big title of an otherwise incredible career, Bayern were chasing their sixth European Cup in their history.
From a personal standpoint, Kane’s season could not have been better; he scored 44 goals across all competitions, which is a record for him.
Although Kane has performed admirably, this unsatisfactory Bayern team has failed and will finish the season without a major prize for the first time since 2011–12.
“I’m really sad about Kane. Ex-Bayer player Owen Hargreaves told TNT Sport, “What a superstar he has been and he doesn’t have an opportunity [in a Champions League final].”
“What a jerk. That just didn’t go as planned in the final ten minutes, and he has been fantastic this season.”
Kane was wrapping up a season on loan from Tottenham to Millwall in 2011–12, when Bayern concluded the season without a win. He was still a year away from making his Premier League debut at Millwall, where he scored seven goals in 22 League One appearances.
He has nearly single-handedly attempted to lead Bayern to victory this season.
Jamal Musiala, the second-highest scorer for Bayern and another player who was substituted out in Madrid, has just 12 goals overall.
But Kane has fallen short due to subpar performances and poor choices made by those around him.
Bayern will be shocked because they appeared to be headed for an all-German Champions League final until they lost their 11-year hold on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen and were eliminated by third-tier Saarbrucken in the German Cup.
In the 28th minute, Kane ignited the game at the Santiago Bernabeu with a quick volley from the D that Andriy Lunin had to go all the way down to his left to stop. The first quarter of the encounter was calm.
However, Bayern surrounding him once more lagged behind, putting on a subdued display as Madrid dominated. Before Kane made his most significant contribution, the tie was only maintained by a string of excellent saves from Neuer.
Although Alphonso Davies’ goal with his supposedly weaker right foot to give Bayern the lead that evening attracted attention, Kane really created the move by dropping deep and then launching a clever pass to the left, which the Canadian full-back was able to take on, cut inside, and score.
Kane is far more valuable to Bayern than just goals. Even when Nacho elbowed Joshua Kimmich in the face just as Madrid seemed to have equalised, he spearheaded the complaints to the referee before VAR disqualified the goal.
But then, in an attempt to try and finish the game, Tuchel made a series of changes with five minutes left, replacing Kane with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. This was the pivotal moment.
German football expert Archie Rhind-Tutt said BBC Radio 5 Live, “That will be viewed as the moment Tuchel lost this for Bayern.”
“After Madrid’s second goal, you could see it in his expression—he appeared terrified. Tuchel, he usually has a great poker face. I saw that guy as someone who realised everything had gone wrong.”
Tuchel, who will leave at the end of the season, defended his decision by claiming that Kane was not in a condition to play.
“He was unable to continue. Due to back pain, Tuchel was unable to continue playing and eventually had a froze back.”
Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid sent Choupo-Moting’s fellow former Stoke City player Joselu on just before Kane was substituted, and the striker grabbed the show.
Kane was left in the away team dugout, wondering what might have been, while the Real Madrid players sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate Joselu’s winner.
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