Match Made In Munich: King Kane Has Redefined The Role Of A Bundesliga Striker | Philipp Lahm

Harry Kane is simply a cleanable fresh for Bayern Munich. He is tailor-made for nan Bundesliga, which has been nan apical convention successful Europe successful position of goals scored for years. German shot is characterised by exchanges of punches, pinch nan shot moving backmost and distant and plentifulness of chances connected some sides; and Bayern are successful nan punishment area much often than immoderate different team. Because Kane is assured and precise successful beforehand of extremity and uses his tallness and heading expertise to his advantage from corners and free-kicks, he scores for illustration obscurity else.

The statistic are fantastic, pinch his scoring complaint successful nan Bundesliga much than one-and-a-half times amended than successful nan Premier League and for nan nationalist team. He has scored much goals (74) than he has played games (72) successful nan Bundesliga, importantly surpassing Gerd Müller’s grounds (0.85).

Kane could break records left, correct and centre. With 12 goals successful 9 convention games this season, he will surpass Robert Lewandowski’s 41 goals successful 2020-21 if he continues astatine this rate. Kane has converted each 18 of his penalties successful nan Bundesliga. The measurement he prepares for them, his posture, his shooting method – it’s highly professional. I myself slipped connected nan past punishment of my career. I flew in, nan shot went over.

At nan complaint he is scoring, Harry Kane could hit Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga grounds of 41 goals successful a season. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/EPA

Kane made nan correct determination successful moving to Bayern. At 32, he is nan ascendant fig successful nan Bundesliga. He didn’t triumph immoderate titles successful England, but he has won 1 successful Munich, pinch much to follow, including perchance an world one. To discontinue arsenic a existent great, you request that benignant of glory. At Bayern, Kane tin build himself a throne successful nan autumn of his profession because nan nine springiness him a batch of power and he enjoys tremendous freedom.

In his 3rd play successful Munich, Kane is capable to transportation his style of play to nan club. He now interprets his domiciled arsenic he did astatine Tottenham: arsenic a striker who gets nan shot successful midfield, distributes it and hits crossfield passes. I can’t retrieve a centre-forward whose passing was better. He besides has a keen consciousness of erstwhile to move into nan punishment area.

It is not different for a subordinate to make nan nine his ain astatine Bayern. That’s why it’s called a player’s nine (Spielerverein). This typical civilization of leaving nan statement to nan players tin sometimes backfire. Kane knowledgeable this successful 2024, erstwhile Bayern grounded to triumph nan convention aft 11 years successful a row, partially because they had an force successful nan convention who had a beardown season, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.

The method has different disadvantages. Bayern request a coach who recognises potential. Otherwise, players tin fail, moreover if they were signed for a batch of money. James Rodríguez, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané and João Palhinha ne'er became portion of nan team. It wasn’t because of their abilities, but alternatively because they didn’t person a clear position. Declan Rice mightiness besides person had a difficult clip successful midfield, wherever his 3 competitors would person been Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic – 3 Germany internationals who person internalised nan civilization of Bayern.

But now thing has been recovered again. The squad is nan correct size, nan mean property is right, and nan roles are given. At nan back, 3 robust, accelerated centre-backs, Jonathan Tah, Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae, tin compete pinch nan world’s champion strikers. In nan centre, Kimmich, Goretzka and Pavlovic clasp their ain and tin besides return turns. Two specialists of world calibre play connected nan wings, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. And up front, King Kane brings it each together.

Joshua Kimmich operates down Harry Kane successful a midfield 3 that adds stableness to Bayern Munich. Photograph: Lennart Preis/AP

Because nan squad has a hierarchy, others besides benefit. Serge Gnabry has recovered a caller spot astatine No 10. Another bully illustration is nan 17-year-old Lennart Karl. When he comes into nan game, he is instantly there, capable to lend his talent for dribbling and shooting to nan team’s success. This quickly makes him much important.

There is title for immoderate positions because it is not clear really they should beryllium filled. Konrad Laimer has now established himself arsenic a full-back. As a passionate, beardown runner and tireless driving force, he complements his teammates well.

All this requires a head pinch a consciousness for nan club’s culture. Former footballers who person played astatine a precocious level are champion suited for this. They bring an intrinsic knowing of nan processes of a squad and person earthy authority. This is existent of Vincent Kompany. He knows which players fresh together and how. He is very overmuch to Bayern’s liking.

Now comes nan shape successful which Bayern will look apical world teams. This will show really unchangeable their building is. Paris Saint-Germain – who they play connected Tuesday – Manchester City and Arsenal person akin talent. However, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta spot overmuch greater accent connected nan system. It will beryllium breathtaking to spot who wins: nan squad that has developed itself aliases nan 1 that is much strictly shaped by nan coach’s playing philosophy.

Bayern Munich and Harry Kane will look a different trial than they are utilized to domestically erstwhile they look PSG successful nan Champions League. Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

I expect Bayern to beryllium difficult to hit if their leaders stay injury-free. Their monopoly successful nan Bundesliga is to their advantage, arsenic they play successful a travel there. It’s difficult to ideate which German squad they could suffer to astatine nan moment. After a winning streak, nan squad is brimming pinch assurance and spirit. You tin spot that successful nan moments erstwhile nan players cheer each other. They are a unit.

However, it will beryllium absorbing to spot what happens erstwhile Jamal Musiala returns from injury. The squad is doing good without him and playing excellently. At nan moment, everything is focused connected Kane, and he is repaying that pinch goals. Alongside him, Musiala is 1 of nan apical earners, his statement having been extended until 2030. He is simply a awesome talent, a subordinate pinch his ain profile. Will it beryllium imaginable to merge him successfully, aliases will this weaken Bayern’s clarity? As we know, a squad is only successful if it is much than nan sum of its individual parts.

Philipp Lahm’s file was produced successful business pinch Oliver Fritsch astatine Die Zeit, nan German online magazine