Harry Kane has faced heavy criticism from the German media, despite his remarkable scoring record of 52 goals for Bayern Munich. The England captain made a highly publicized move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern in the summer of 2023 for a staggering £100 million transfer fee, marking a new chapter in his career.
Kane’s first season at Bayern saw him find the back of the net 45 times in 44 matches across all competitions, an impressive feat by any standard. However, despite his prolific scoring, Bayern Munich fell short of winning the Bundesliga title, leaving Kane without a major trophy in his debut campaign. Nevertheless, his individual accomplishments were notable, as he shattered multiple records in Bavaria. Now 31, Kane has carried his excellent form into the new season under new manager Vincent Kompany, netting 10 goals in his first seven matches.
Yet, despite his early-season heroics, Kane has not escaped the scrutiny of the German press. A recent column by journalist Walter Straten, published in BILD, called into question his performances in crucial matches. The headline of the article bluntly reads, “The BITTER Kane truth,” and followed Bayern’s 1-1 draw with defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
In that match, Leverkusen took the lead through Robert Andrich, only for Aleksandar Pavlovic to equalize for Bayern shortly after. The draw kept Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga standings, three points ahead of Leverkusen after five games with a record of four wins and one draw. Despite this, Straten expressed doubts about Kane’s effectiveness when it comes to high-stakes encounters.
Straten wrote, “Lots of effort, too little success. Harry Kane is hanging around alone up front. What good are three goals against Kiel if he doesn’t even get a shot on goal in a big game like yesterday?” This pointed critique suggests that Kane’s contributions in matches against lesser opposition might not translate to the performances needed in pivotal games against top-tier opponents.
The article also touched on the notion that Kane might not be able to shake off the “Kane-can’t-win-a-title” narrative that has followed him throughout his career, especially after his long spell at Tottenham where he came close but never secured a major trophy. Straten added that fairness should prevail before labeling Kane with this curse, particularly since he had to leave the Leverkusen match early due to injury.
Kane suffered a painful ankle injury following a challenge by Leverkusen’s Amine Adli, forcing him to be substituted in the 86th minute. Despite the injury scare, Bayern Munich provided an update the following day, reporting positive news regarding his recovery. Kompany remains hopeful that Kane will be fit for their upcoming Champions League clash against Aston Villa, with his importance to the team undeniable.
While Kane’s goal-scoring prowess remains undisputed, his ability to influence the outcome of big matches will continue to be a talking point in Germany. The pressure on him to deliver in key moments will only intensify as Bayern Munich chase domestic and European glory under their new manager. Whether Kane can silence his critics and prove himself as a player who shines on the biggest stages remains to be seen, but the weight of expectation will surely be heavy on his shoulders.