BERLIN:
Bayern Munich are pinning their hopes on England captain Harry Kane to return a stuttering group contemporary off their worst season in a decade to the European elite.
Bayern’s 11th straight Bundesliga title did not paper over the cracks of a facet which is but to click on for the reason that arrival of coach Thomas Tuchel in March.
Final week’s signing of Kane for 100 million euros ($109 million) from Premier League facet Tottenham broke the German membership’s switch document.
The deal additionally broke a long-standing promise from former boss Uli Hoeness that the membership “would not purchase a participant for 100 million even when I had the cash”.
However whether or not the 30-year-old Kane, who arrives after a profitable however trophyless profession in north London, can really be Bayern’s saviour stays to be seen.
Bayern limped to the title in 2022-23, profitable on purpose distinction after Borussia Dortmund’s last-day collapse to attract at dwelling with mid-table Mainz.
Bayern’s factors complete of 71 was their lowest since 2010-11, when the facet completed third underneath caretaker coach Andries Jonker.
The shock firing of Julian Nagelsmann for Tuchel in March did not have the specified impact, with Bayern knocked out of the German Cup and the Champions League quickly afterwards.
Former Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic repeatedly dismissed criticisms of the group underneath Tuchel, saying the facet wanted time to get used to the Champions League-winning coach’s strategies.
In late Could, simply days earlier than he himself was sacked, Salihamidzic informed Sky: “Thomas Tuchel simply wants the pre-season with the group, then every little thing will probably be higher.”
Early proof nevertheless suggests Bayern haven’t solved their issues from final season.
On Saturday, Bayern had been crushed 3-Zero at dwelling by RB Leipzig within the German Tremendous Cup with Kane making little influence, making his debut as a late substitute.
Identical to final season, Bayern lacked fluency and coherence, with a “sorry” Tuchel saying Kane “in all probability thinks we’ve not been coaching right here for weeks”.
Tuchel blamed his facet’s “dangerous begin” to the match and stated he noticed a “enormous discrepancy” between what his group produced at coaching and what they confirmed on the pitch.
Tuchel stated he was “frightened”, telling reporters he has “no resolution” to the facet’s issues.
Tuchel has publicly referred to as for a brand new defensive midfielder, whereas the continued saga surrounding injured captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was made worse by the sale of substitute Yann Sommer to Inter Milan.
Even for the richest membership in Germany, the outlay on Kane was lavish and the Bayern brass will need a right away return.
Tuchel stated as a lot after Saturday’s outcome, saying Kane would “quickly assist the group and raise us as much as a brand new stage”.
“We now have to get to know him however he’ll play each sport.”
Kane embraced the expectations on him at his unveiling on Sunday, saying: “I am right here to win the Champions League with this group.”
The sky-high expectations on Kane come after the failed signing of Sadio Mane.
Mane, one other arrival from the Premier League unveiled to nice fanfare, lasted only one disappointing yr in Munich, having did not step into the footwear of the departed Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski scored 344 objectives in 375 Bayern appearances throughout his eight years on the membership, making the Pole an nearly inconceivable act to observe.
As a real centre-forward, Kane is extra probably than the Senegalese to match Lewandowski’s output, however whether or not he alone can return Bayern to the European elite is a job questioned by the membership’s rivals.
Leipzig sporting director Max Eberl stated after his facet’s dominant efficiency on Saturday that the hype round Kane made the England captain appear “just like the messiah, strolling on water”.
Kane’s first true take a look at will come on Friday, when he’ll begin up entrance as Bayern tackle Werder Bremen within the season opener.
If Kane takes too lengthy to resemble the second coming of Lewandowski, the England captain will quickly realise how rapidly endurance wears skinny in Bavaria.