Smiling, record-breaker Harry Kane took a selfie on the sidelines with the match ball in his hand as the obligatory three-goal trophy. The Munich goal phenomenon is not only reaching for the record set by former world footballer Robert Lewandowski, but after FC Bayern’s impressive restart with two liberating victories, he is also going into the hunt for the rest of the season with a renewed desire for the title.
“We want to win trophies, win the Bundesliga and the Champions League. But there’s still a long way to go,” said the 30-year-old Englishman after the 8-1 goal party against FSV Mainz 05. In contrast to that after one Coach Thomas Tuchel’s limping toe was laid on Kane
Goretzka with announcement
For the championship trophy, several mistakes by the elusive front runner Bayer Leverkusen are necessary. A dose of luck would also be helpful for the Champions League ambitions in the quarter-final draw next Friday. “It was very important for us to keep this season alive,” said double packer Leon Goretzka after the 3-0 win against Lazio Rome and the shooting festival against relegation candidate Mainz. “If Leverkusen still gets a little afraid of winning, it’s our job to be there,” added the national player.
The bosses cheered freely in the stands, where the club grandees Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge talked shop with gestures about the beautiful goals after the Bayern-like performance. Despite breathtaking dribbling from Jamal Musiala or the goal feat from returnee Serge Gnabry, Kane stood out again.
“Gift” Kane is chasing the 41-goal record
“It’s a gift to be able to coach him,” said Tuchel. Kane has 30 league goals to his name. Nine games remain in the attack on Lewandowski’s 41-goal record. “I trust Harry with everything. He does what he always does in his entire career. He scores, he is a role model, he is a great personality,” said Tuchel.
On Tuchel’s farewell tour, the star ensemble gets back into gear. Why not like that? “That’s the question of the season,” said a smiling Tuchel. After he was injured during his emotional speech before the Rome game, this time he kicked a door without any serious consequences.
Multi-expert Kane has never been better
“I said in the middle of the week that we can hopefully use this as an initial spark. That is now the goal to continue in the remaining games,” said 100 million man Kane. He twice scored 30 league goals this season with Tottenham in the Premier League – he never had more. “30 goals is a nice milestone at this point in the season,” said Kane. The English international became the first player in Bundesliga history to score eight multiples in his first season.
The euphoria after the victory with goals from Kane (3), Goretzka (2), Musiala, Müller and Gnabry was also mixed with the thought of what an earlier coaching decision might have changed. After three competitive defeats in a row, the club and Tuchel announced their separation at the end of the season – since then there have been three wins and one draw with 15:4 goals.
Neuer and the “Flow”
“We were completely different on the pitch and more confident. It almost ran itself,” said captain Manuel Neuer after the boost from the premier class. “If we can take this flow with us, it would of course be nice.” A good quarter-final opponent in the premier class, who, according to Munich’s wishes, does not necessarily have to be record winners Real Madrid or defending champions Manchester City, could further lift the mood in the fight against the first titleless season since 2012.
Victories like those against Rome and Mainz always bring peace to the groundbreaking personnel issues. “When we win games and show performances like this, it obviously makes a lot of things easier,” said sports director Christoph Freund. Together with sports director Max Eberl, the Austrian is pushing forward the search for coaches and squad planning.
Eberl: No concrete coaching discussions yet
“We have a list of priorities that we want to work through now,” announced Eberl. According to his own statements, he has not yet had any specific discussions with coaches. Of course, they don’t want to put off the decision for too long, added Freund. But the most important thing is to “do the right thing”. The designated Leverkusen champion Xabi Alonso remains a hot candidate.
“If I’m honest, I don’t care about it at all, it’s the club’s job,” said Goretzka, who was named “Player of the Match” by Tuchel and campaigned for a national team nomination. Gnabry, who has been injured for a long time for the second time this season, is also hoping to have a nice European Championship year after his league comeback with a dream goal. “Great run, great pass, very intuitive and unconventional finish – great,” said Tuchel about Gnabry’s goal.
