Comments from the England captain
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Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich two years ago ahead of the DFL Supercup match against RB Leipzig. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating a victory in his debut, team faced a 3-0 defeat. The 2023/24 season passed without any titles for Bayern Munich. However, two years later, Kane finally clinched the Meisterschale with Bayern in May and later found redemption in the newly named Franz-Beckenbauer-Supercup, scoring in a 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart.
“It was a whirlwind 24 hours,” Kane reflected on his €95 million transfer from Tottenham, which remains the largest transfer in Bayern Munich’s history. “To move to a new club and play my first match with new teammates, especially considering the transfer was finalized early that morning, was overwhelming. It was disappointing to lose, too.” For Kane, the game against Stuttgart presented an opportunity for redemption. “While it may not be the biggest trophy we’ll chase this season, starting off with momentum is crucial. Every trophy we celebrate like it’s our first, and we immediately focus on the next one.”
Securing a goal at the start of the season was significant for Kane. He netted the opener in the 18th minute with a precise finish. “Honestly, it feels great,” Kane said about the goal. “The first goal of the season is always significant for a striker. Despite my experience, that feeling never fades. It was critical to help the team, and I’m thrilled with the win.” Establishing momentum is essential, especially with the brief interval between the FIFA Club World Cup and the beginning of the domestic season in Germany. “The preseason was short,” he noted. “We’ve had to accomplish a lot quickly, so starting with this important game was vital. Credit goes to the team for our performance and the well-deserved win.”
Kane: Díaz is agile and sharp – Bayern’s squad is one of the smallest I’ve played in
Considering the brief preseason and the long upcoming season, one must question if Bayern’s squad is sufficiently large. Late Friday, Bayern confirmed the transfer of winger Kingsley Coman to Al-Nassr, while Stuttgart blocked Nick Woltemade’s move to Bayern. Talks are reportedly underway with Chelsea regarding Christopher Nkunku, although they remain in the early stages. In light of these developments, Bayern’s 25-player squad, which includes several young talents, appears somewhat thin for competing in three tournaments.
“This is one of the smallest squads I’ve ever been part of,” Kane acknowledged when asked. “There’s still time left in the transfer window, and those decisions are up to [director of sport] Max [Eberl], [sporting director] Christoph [Freund], and the coach. We have some strong young players who performed well during preseason. But yes, we are a bit short on numbers, if we’re honest. From our side, as players, we can’t control that, so we must be prepared for the opportunities that arise. The youngsters need to be ready, while those above must do what’s right for the squad.” These promising young players include Paul Wanner, Lennart Karl, and Jonah Kusi-Asare, all of whom have a real chance to make an impact, though their contributions remain to be seen. Freund confirmed to the media that Bayern, without naming names, is still discussing potential signings.
A player who made an immediate impact is Colombian winger Luis Díaz, who transferred in a deal worth €70 million plus add-ons from Liverpool this summer. Díaz scored what became the decisive goal in the 77th minute. “You can see his one-on-one ability on the wing,” Kane commented on Díaz. “He’s incredibly sharp and agile. His greatest asset is his goal-scoring ability, which will be vital for us this season. He makes those crucial runs into the six-yard box and has an excellent finish. That’s essential in modern football, as wingers are expected to net 15-20 goals a season. His goal today was a result of a fantastic run and finish. He also had a few other opportunities where he was unlucky, but scoring the winner in his first competitive match for the club will boost his confidence tremendously.”
