Bayern were knocked out the Champions League by Inter, but Kane can still end his career trophy drought with a Bundesliga win
In his post-match interview, Harry Kane sent a rallying cry to his Bayern teammates to put Wednesday night’s defeat behind them and secure their domestic title. He described his side almost as unlucky, having registered 13 shots on target across both legs of the tie, but only scoring three goals.
“We gave everything to win,” he said. “We had enough chances over the two legs. Conceding two goals from set pieces today was criminal. It completely shifted the momentum. We came very close. Football is about moments, they took theirs more than us.”
The dream trophy lift in Europe was not meant to be, but both Kane and Thomas Muller, key characters in that would-be story – were influential for Bayern against a dogged Inter Milan side.
Muller was denied a heroic substitute appearance in the tie last week when Davide Frattesi restored Inter’s lead only three minutes after he had brought Bayern level. But the German attacker started the game at San Siro, with the armband no less, and did indeed take charge. He combined time and again with Michael Olise, who was coming in from the right channel, but their efforts went everywhere except where they wanted it.
It was particularly noteworthy that Muller’s final effort on the night was a tame header that the Bayern squad were begging to go in, only for Inter goalkeeper Yan Sommer to claim it comfortably. It summarised the evening for Muller, who will be leaving the Allianz Arena at the end of the season.
Kane, on his own part, scored the first goal. But after that it was one half chance after another, and at full time the camera spied the 31-year-old Englishman in tears.
“It would be a dream to win the Champions League, it’s been a dream of mine pretty much my whole life,” Kane said earlier this year.
He can still achieve that dream maybe, but not this year. He and his teammates must now turn their attention to the Bundesliga where, with Bayern six points clear at the top with five games to go, Kane is likely to break his trophy jinx. As long as Bayern don’t do anything monumentally damaging.
“We can’t let this ruin our season now,” he said of the defeat. “We still have a Bundesliga title to bring back to Munich. We have a game in a couple of days, we have to get up and get back to winning ways.”
The test at Inter was a tough one. Wrapping up the Bundesliga should be much easier.
