The German phrase for ‘trophy curse’ – Trophäenfluch – has hardly ever been used for Bayern Munich within the twenty first century. Till the final season. The arrival of Harry Kane to the Bavarian soccer powerhouse introduced objectives, moments of genius, and the depraved trophy curse. For the primary time in a decade, the Bundesliga had a winner not named Bayern Munich. How might that membership, with these gamers, and that supervisor not simply lose the league, however go trophyless all 12 months? It appeared inconceivable proper till it occurred. And, it raised a really pertinent query, does Harry Kane actually have the Trophäenfluch?
At Tottenham Hotspur, the membership he spent 14 years at, scoring a staggering 317 objectives, he had come shut. Solely to be denied, cruelly. A few intently contested English Premier League seasons, a Champions League ultimate, solely to see the silverware being lifted from afar. Even with England, back-to-back European Championship finals led to a few heartbreaks. There have been particular person laurels gained, positive, however these solely left him wanting much more for the crew titles.
“As a lot as that is nice, I need to be successful the largest crew prizes,” Kane had mentioned three years in the past, accepting the Premier League’s Participant of the 12 months award. “We’re not fairly doing that. It’s bittersweet.”
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And so when he arrived at Bayern Munich, a membership so used to successful, it was solely truthful to anticipate a change in his fortunes. Former Bayern midfielder and Germany’s World Cup successful captain Lothar Matthäus nevertheless, believes there’s as a lot stress on Kane, as a possibility to win his first crew trophy.
“While you play for Bayern Munich, you understand what it’s a must to do: it’s a must to win. That’s it. It’s straightforward,” Matthäus mentioned in a choose media interplay. “You might have the perfect life in Bayern Munich, as a coach, as a participant. Not solely due to the wage. The ambiance within the membership is great. However positive, there’s stress.”
Matthäus, who made 113 appearances for Bayern throughout all competitions, added, “We – not solely us the ex-players, but in addition the followers – anticipate from Bayern Munich not simply the titles, but in addition leisure. We need to see a superb sport. We would like a horny soccer type. We all know what the final 40-50 years on the membership have been like. As gamers, it makes us blissful to offer one thing again to the membership. As a result of the membership provides you a lot. You reside in a good looking metropolis. You might have good leisure. You might have what most individuals want as gamers. You might have the perfect assist from everyone. And consider me, they’re all making an attempt to make issues straightforward for a participant. However….you want the outcomes.”
Repeat of final season, unlikely
If one seems past the Trophäenfluch narrative, Bayern’s incapacity to win a contest had little to do with their big-ticket striker. Kane, in his first season in Germany, was close to flawless in his position. The Englishman returned with a stunning tally of 36 objectives from 34 league video games – simply 5 in need of Robert Lewandowski’s all-time report.
When requested if he was impressed with Kane’s freshman 12 months in Germany, Matthäus added that it was extremely unlikely that the 31-year-old would have related fortune in entrance of purpose. Not that it will be the latter’s primary precedence, he believes.
“I believe he won’t rating 36 objectives once more,” the German stalwart chucked. “It was an excellent season for him as a scorer however not by way of outcomes. Not with England on the Euros, as a result of as a captain, he wasn’t in the perfect of circumstances. He was injured earlier than the Euros. At Bayern Munich, he didn’t win the title. He was scoring objectives, doing what we anticipate from him. However ultimately, the crew outcomes didn’t make him blissful. I’m positive he was an enormous ambassador for Bundesliga worldwide however he’d need to win the titles. He hasn’t gained that many in his profession.”
Bayern begin favorites, however stress is on
Final 12 months they’d the identical high quality within the crew however communication between the coach and gamers was not good. Vincent Kompany is the coach who can deliver that ambiance again to the crew. They’ve much less stress in Bayer Leverkusen than Munich this season. Leverkusen do not should win. Bayern, after their final two seasons, not solely should win however should carry out as nicely. Now that’s stress,
It’s a harsh reminder. One which’s adopted Kane by means of his profession. A striker of immense pedigree, who has delivered persistently, been a part of among the most well-rounded groups, and but, a stranger to a crew sport’s most valued expertise.
Even Google’s Gemini AI rubs salt to the injuries. “There are slim probabilities that Harry Kane will handle to win a trophy with England till he retires, as going by the observe report, though he has huge match-winning capabilities, he nonetheless didn’t handle to win a title with Tottenham Hotspur, or Bayern Munich.”
One has to ponder, how does he decide himself up after one other heartbreak, years of them.
Matthäus is assured that Kane can lastly finish the drought come the brand new Bundesliga season, “I’m positive he can be motivated with a brand new coach, new crew, with a brand new spirit within the membership to make it larger than final 12 months.”