Champions League: Harry Kane, world-class striker... and black cat

It's not even a question of dusting off the trophy cabinet, just of inaugurating it. It was with this in mind that Harry Kane left his lifelong club, Tottenham, last summer for Bayern Munich. At Spurs, where he left as the top scorer in their history (278 goals in 430 matches), the English striker did not lift the slightest cup. In Bavaria, he expected to “play the Champions League and fight for titles”, as he explained six months ago. He fights for titles, yes, but they continue to escape him.

Unless there is an incredible comeback, Bayern will not be German champions for the 12th time in a row. Bayer Leverkusen are 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. In the German Cup, the Munich team left in the round of 16, beaten by D3 club Saarbrücken (2-1). Kane remained on the bench. In the German Super Cup, also failure, on August 12 against Leipzig (0-3). Kane entered on the hour mark for his big debut.

Remains a tiny hope in the Champions League. Bayern lost in the round of 16 first leg at Lazio Rome (1-0) and hosts the return this Tuesday (9 p.m.). The cut with the big ears remains far away, as the “Rekordmeister” (literally “the record champion”) seems ill. He is coming out of a disastrous month of February, suffering three defeats at Leverkusen (3-0), Rome and Bochum (3-2). The departure of coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season has already been made official. “I don’t think I’m the only problem, but I am responsible and I take responsibility for this decision,” he commented ten days ago.

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Bayern is in crisis. Not Harry Kane, author of 31 goals in 32 matches, in addition to 8 assists. The 30-year-old England captain is panicking the scorers as he did so much in London. “I expected him to be very good, but not at the level he is playing at the moment,” applauded his teammate Jamal Musiala during the fall. “It’s a gift to be his coach,” praised Tuchel this Monday. His easy character and his experience are unanimous across the Rhine. Kane at Bayern is a success.

Enough to make him even more want to tear his hair out in the face of the collective results. Kane, five times named in the 30 for the Ballon d’Or (twice in the top 10), gives the impression of being cursed. “If I were him, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if, at the end of my career, I could only highlight my goals,” declared the former glory of Arsenal and the French team, Thierry Henry, a year ago.

In the national team, it is the same dark cloud that pursues Kane, top scorer in the history of the Three Lions (62 goals), with whom he failed to win Euro 2020 at home, in the final at Wembley against Italy (1-1, 4-3 on penalties). “Football is cruel,” lamented former Manchester United Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, deeming the mention of a curse affecting Kane “stupid and disrespectful.”

The Bavarian No.9 is under contract until 2027 at the German club. Rest assured, Bayern has not had two blank seasons in a row since 1993, the year of its birth. The last of its kind was even followed by a historic quadruple in 2013 (Bundesliga, cup, Supercup, Champions League). For now, it's time for a perilous reception from Lazio, with a one-goal deficit to make up for. “We have no time to lose,” warned Tuchel. Neither does Kane.