Harry Kane thriving under Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich reign

Rob Fleming
25 September 2023

Bayern's Harry Kane scores against Augsburg

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has established an impressive record against various opponents.

However, one particular player he must have kept a keen eye on is Harry Kane, with whom he crossed paths numerous times during his tenure as Chelsea's manager.

Tuchel's managerial journey at Stamford Bridge experienced a sudden halt following a string of disappointing outcomes last autumn, notably culminating in a Champions League setback against Dinamo Zagreb. Nevertheless, his return to the Bundesliga as Bayern Munich's manager commenced somewhat turbulently. Still, he managed to secure the Bundesliga title last season and an eventful summer transfer window that significantly bolstered the squad.

Harry Kane's arrival at Bayern marked a significant move during the summer transfer window. The English striker wasted no time making his presence felt, amassing an impressive four goals and an assist in his first five Bundesliga matches.

On Saturday against VfL Bochum Kane scored three goals and provided two assists in the 7-0 win.

His only goalless outing came in Bayern's hard-fought 2-1 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach, not counting the DFL-Supercup loss to RB Leipzig.

Transitioning to a new club, adapting to a new manager, and embracing a different attacking system can be daunting for any player. However, Kane has seamlessly integrated into life at Bayern and the Bundesliga, demonstrating remarkable versatility. He has shown a propensity to impact matches without requiring an abundance of touches on the ball.

Furthermore, he has embraced a role where he drops deeper to create space for attacking runs—a strategy that was a hallmark of his partnership with Son Heung-Min at Tottenham.

Reports from within the club indicate that Kane has quickly grasped Tuchel's tactical vision, despite acknowledging the need for ongoing adaptation to Bayern's attacking style.

Kane spoke highly of the former Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, and Mainz boss, saying, "He's a really good guy and has great ideas about how we want to play. Our relationship is good, and I think it will continue to develop over time as we get to know each other better. He is one of the top coaches in the world and pushes me – and all the other players – to improve" (via @iMiaSanMia).

Tuchel had made his intentions clear to Bayern's board during the summer transfer window—he sought to acquire a top-class striker. His determination paid off as he successfully secured his number one target in Kane.