Harry Kane’s first season at Bayern Munich ended in heartbreak as the German giants were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals by Real Madrid. The England captain, who has been in scintillating form all season, was a pivotal figure on the pitch but was controversially substituted with minutes remaining, a decision that has sparked debate.
With Bayern leading 1-0 and seemingly on their way to the Wembley final, manager Thomas Tuchel opted to take off Kane in the 85th minute. This decision backfired spectacularly as Real Madrid scored a dramatic late double to win the tie. Former players Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves questioned the substitution, highlighting Kane’s unmatched contribution throughout the season.
“He has done his job. He has scored the goals,” said Ferdinand. “They brought him to win trophies and I feel the others have let him down more than anything.”
Kane, who has bagged a career-best 44 goals this season, was Bayern’s undisputed star. While the team around him faltered, he almost single-handedly propelled them towards glory. Bayern finished the season trophyless, losing the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, crashing out of the German Cup, and now missing out on the Champions League final.
Kane’s influence wasn’t limited to goalscoring. He orchestrated Bayern’s opening goal, dropping deep and finding Alphonso Davies with a visionary pass. He also displayed leadership qualities, protesting a potential Madrid equalizer that was later overturned by VAR.
However, Tuchel’s decision to remove him with the finish line in sight proved costly. The manager defended his call, claiming Kane was struggling with back pain, but many pundits believe it was a turning point in the match. “That will be viewed as the moment Tuchel lost this for Bayern,” said German football expert Archie Rhind-Tutt.
With Kane on the pitch, Bayern looked on course for the Champions League final. Without him, they crumbled. This scenario reflects Bayern’s entire season – a team heavily reliant on their star striker. Now, Kane is left wondering what might have been after a debut campaign that promised so much but ultimately delivered nothing.
