The 2023-24 season has been a disappointing one for Bayern Munich, and the absence of Harry Kane in their recent Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid has been identified as a turning point. When Kane was substituted in the 85th minute, Bayern were leading and heading towards the final. However, after his departure, Madrid staged a dramatic comeback and secured their place in the final. This incident highlights the importance of Kane to Bayern’s success this season.
Rio Ferdinand, a former Champions League winner, expressed sympathy for Kane, stating that the others have let him down. Kane joined Bayern with the goal of winning trophies, but unfortunately, his debut campaign has ended without any major silverware. On an individual level, Kane has had a remarkable season, scoring 44 goals in all competitions, his best ever scoring season. However, despite his stellar performances, Bayern have fallen short and will finish the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2011-12.
Comparisons can be drawn between this season and Bayern’s trophyless 2011-12 campaign. During that season, Kane was on loan at Millwall and was yet to make his Premier League debut. This season, however, he has been the driving force behind Bayern’s efforts. While Jamal Musiala is the team’s second-highest scorer with just 12 goals, Kane has almost singlehandedly tried to lead Bayern to glory. Unfortunately, poor performances and bad decisions from those around him have hindered his efforts.
Bayern’s loss of the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen and their elimination from the German Cup by third-tier Saarbrucken further highlight their disappointing season. The Champions League seemed to be their last chance for redemption, but Madrid’s dominance and Bayern’s passive showing dashed their hopes of an all-German final.
Despite Bayern’s shortcomings, Kane’s value to the team extends beyond his goalscoring ability. He demonstrated leadership on the pitch by leading complaints to the referee during a contentious moment. However, the turning point came when manager Thomas Tuchel decided to replace Kane with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in an attempt to see out the match. This decision has been heavily criticized, with experts suggesting that it was the moment Tuchel lost the game for Bayern. Tuchel defended his call, stating that Kane was unable to continue due to back pain.
As Madrid celebrated their victory, Kane was left in the dugout to contemplate what could have been. It is clear that his absence had a significant impact on Bayern’s performance and their chances of reaching the final. Despite his individual success, Kane will be disappointed with how his debut season at Bayern has ended.