When Harry Kane was on the field, Bayern Munich was on its way to the Champions League final. His departure marked a shift in their fortunes.
Thomas Tuchel made the decision to substitute Kane in the 85th minute against Real Madrid. At that time, Bayern was maintaining a one-goal lead, with Kane spearheading their approach to Wembley.
While other factors were at play, including Manuel Neuer’s mishap that led to Joselu scoring the first of his late dramatic goals and Real Madrid’s knack for clinching victory in crucial European matches, Kane’s substitution was seen as a pivotal moment.
This substitution reflects Bayern’s 2023-24 season—a season marked by their struggle without Kane’s presence on the pitch. Ultimately, Kane’s first season with Bayern concludes without any trophies.
“He has done his job. He has scored the goals,” Champions League winner Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
“They brought him to continue winning trophies and I feel the others have let him down more than anything. I think he will have a heavy heart tonight.”
While Bayern were after the seventh European Cup in their history, Kane was looking for the first major trophy of an otherwise stellar career.
Certainly, this season could not have been better from an individual perspective for Kane, scoring 44 goals in all competitions – his best ever scoring season.
Yet while Kane has shone, this flawed Bayern side have fallen short and will end the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2011-12.
“I feel so sorry for Kane. What a superstar he has been and he doesn’t have an opportunity [in a Champions League final],” former Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves told TNT Sport.
“Poor guy. He has been amazing this season and that just didn’t go to plan in the last 10 minutes.”
‘The moment Tuchel lost this for Bayern’
During the 2011-12 season when Bayern ended without any silverware, Harry Kane was wrapping up a loan stint at Millwall from Tottenham, netting seven goals in 22 League One matches, a year before making his Premier League debut.
This season, he has nearly carried Bayern on his shoulders towards success.
Bayern’s second-highest scorer, Jamal Musiala—who was also substituted in Madrid—has scored just 12 goals in all competitions this season.
Despite his efforts, Kane’s season has been marred by subpar performances and questionable decisions by those around him. Bayern relinquished their 11-year hold on the Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, were ousted from the German Cup by third-tier Saarbrucken, and have now missed their chance at a Champions League final appearance.
The match at the Santiago Bernabeu started quietly for Kane, but he ignited in the 28th minute with a sharp volley that forced a great save from Andriy Lunin. Despite Kane’s efforts, the rest of the team lagged, with a lackluster performance that allowed Madrid to control the game. Neuer’s excellent saves kept Bayern in the match until Kane set up a key play.
Alphonso Davies’ goal with his weaker right foot, putting Bayern ahead, was a highlight, but it was Kane’s deep move and precise pass to Davies on the left that made the goal possible.
Kane’s contributions extend far beyond scoring; he actively contested referee decisions, including a confrontation when Nacho pushed Joshua Kimmich before a Madrid goal that was later annulled by VAR.
The match’s dynamic shifted when Thomas Tuchel substituted Kane with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting with five minutes left, in an attempt to secure the win.
“That will be viewed as the moment Tuchel lost this for Bayern,” German football expert Archie Rhind-Tutt told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“You could see it in his facial expression after the second Madrid goal went in – he looked shaken. He usually has a very good poker face, Tuchel. That for me was a guy who knew it had all gone wrong.”
Tuchel, due to depart at the end of the season, defended his call, saying Kane was in no state to continue.
“He couldn’t keep going. He played with back pain and he couldn’t keep going, his back froze up,” Tuchel said.
Shortly before Kane came off, Choupo-Moting’s fellow former Stoke City player Joselu was thrown on by Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti – and he snatched the striking glory.
As the Real players streaked on to the pitch to celebrate Joselu’s winner, Kane was left in the away team dugout to wonder what might have been.