- Harry Kane is facing the prospect of another season without team silverware
- The England star was helpless to prevent Bayern from being defeated by Leverkusen
- The only PR managers get is results… Erik ten Hag’s handling of Marcus Rashford was a rare positive for the Man U boss – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
You know the pose. Head bowed, hands on hips, the terrifying realization that an opportunity to finally be a winner had slipped away.
Harry Kane achieved that figure in Moscow and Madrid, Wembley and Doha, but he could never have foreseen that Leverkusen would be added to his desperate destinations. But here he was, shattered, faced with the prospect of another disaster potentially unfolding.
When Kane cut ties with Tottenham, we rightly expected his medal famine would end. Bayern Munich always win the Bundesliga and had signed the England captain for £100 million – how could things go wrong?
Well, things are definitely going wrong now. Bayern have time to extricate themselves from a situation where they are five points ahead of Xabi Alonso’s effervescent collective, but seeing them torn apart makes you fear Kane will be second best again when the hints are given in May .
This was the kind of match where you expected him to stealthily enter the penalty area, sweep his right foot back and run away with that trademark celebration, a kiss from his left hand and a little jump in the air.
Harry Kane was left frustrated as Bayern slipped to a 3-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday to fall five points behind the Bundesliga leaders.
Kane was frustrated as he managed just 18 touches in the brutal 95 minutes against Leverkusen
When the English talisman moved to Germany in the summer, it was not an individual success for silverware
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But to have a chance of doing that, he had to see the ball – and he didn’t. He had 18 touches in those brutal 95 minutes, as Alonso showed why many are prepared to anoint him as Liverpool’s next manager, and he never stood a chance. Kane’s final contribution was a stoppage-time pass that rolled apologetically out of play.
Kane, be very clear: this is not the reason Bayern are floundering. His debut campaign in Germany has been personally excellent with 28 goals so far, but he sought this challenge because he wanted more than individual recognition. He wanted to be a winner.
But Bayern are out of the German Cup, face a tough Champions League assignment against Lazio and this 3-0 defeat leaves them gasping for air in the quest to retain the Bundesliga title; What’s worse for Kane, it seems all is not well in the camp.
“To be honest, I’m devastated,” Thomas Müller said angrily about the performance against Leverkusen. ‘What this team lacks are balls. There must be energy. It’s not just about (looking at) the coach (Thomas Tuchel). It’s about the players taking responsibility.’
Bayern Munich’s players were dejected as they trudged off the pitch at full-time at the BayArena
Kane has been excellent individually for Bayern this season with 28 goals so far
Not a good sign. Maybe Bayern will wake up and Kane will get the chance to celebrate, but to see him standing there so forlorn you had to wonder whether history will repeat itself – for him at least.
All the momentum belongs to Alonso and his men, whose victory was secured with goals from Josip Stanisic, Alex Grimaldo and Jeremy Frimpong.
“The mentality that Alonso has given us is that the season is not over, it is one win,” said Leverkusen defender Jonathon Tah. ‘We are in a good position, but we have to keep pushing. We enjoyed it, it was fun. Sometimes you have to pause and enjoy moments. But for the next match? We carry on.’
Kane will too; he can only hope that the rest of Bayern’s squad will follow suit.