Harry Kane at one point looked like he was headed to Old Trafford, but he now has a different path at Bayern Munich. Photo: Getty Images/Alex Dodd Even on what was a modest night by his standards, Harry Kane finished the game at Old Trafford with as many assists as Bruno Fernandes had all season. One touch, a strike with the outside of his boot that released Kingsley Coman for the Bayern Munich winner, was all he needed to outshine the woefully ineffective Manchester United captain. That's how sharp the gulf has become between these European superpowers.
Thomas Tuchel likes to describe Bayern's capture of Kane as an act of grand theft. He has repeatedly spoken of “stealing” the England captain, which at first glance seems an odd word to attach to a deal involving a nine-figure sum. And yet it was obvious when you looked at the gap in the classroom.
In Kane, Bayern Munich have a marksman so lethal that by mid-November he had broken last season's Bundesliga scoring record. United, by contrast, are making do with Rasmus Hoylund, a striker who still hasn't scored a Premier League goal four months later. It was Kane's first game on English soil and the sight of the number nine selected in Bayern's black and purple away strip must have been traumatic for United fans. How did they end up attacking an untested young Dane from Atalanta instead?
Although Hoylund has performed better in Europe than domestically, scoring five times in the Champions League, he has looked painfully raw at times. His physical match with Dayot Upamecano was a mismatch. Ahead he plowed the loneliest furrow. He remained unmanned throughout the game while Kane was able to enjoy the knowledge that Bayern were in complete control. And when Kane finally had his chance to shine, he took Coman clean.
The goal that officially ends Manchester United's European hopes? ⚽️
Kingsley Coman weaves through the center of the United defense to give Bayern Munich the lead 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/vUj9dM3qmt
— Football on TNT Sport (@footballontnt) December 12, 2023
Paul Scholes lamented on the pitch that Kane, along with Declan Rice, was one of two players United needed to sign last summer to have any hope of revival. But the realities at the club have changed since its heyday. United are no longer as attracted to a talent of Kane's caliber as they once were. He sensed that a more tempting challenge awaited him in Bavaria, and so far his logic had borne fruit.
“The club, the fans and my teammates made me feel welcome and that’s one of the reasons I can do what I’ve done so far,” Kane said. “Honestly, I think there's more to come. I'm getting to know the club more and more, the way the coach wants me to play – sometimes going down, sometimes staying as a striker. We have enough opportunities to go far in this competition. That's the goal of the club, to go and win the Champions League.”
These were two clubs whose paths diverged sharply. Kane versus Hoylund was far from the only offensive contrast. Who would United rather have, to be honest: Joshua Kimmich or Sofyan Amrabat? Anthony or Jamal Musiala? They are reaping a bitter harvest from years of questionable recruiting.
Rasmus Hoylund did not have a particularly effective game. Photo: Reuters/Carl Recine
Fatalism gripped the crowd as Luke Shaw joined Harry Maguire among the walking wounded. This became even more apparent when news leaked of Copenhagen's decisive goal against Galatasaray. And that set the mood when Coman finally gave Bayern the lead they deserved. These increasingly care-worn fans have seen enough to know what will happen once this side backs down. Confidence evaporates. Failure quickly turns into embarrassment.
For Erik ten Hag's United, there's little to sweeten the pill. At one point they entertain real European aristocrats. Then they are kicked out of Europe altogether. Bottom of the qualifying group? This is not a result United should accept humbly. And it will increase pressure on Sir Jim Ratcliffe to act decisively when his 25 per cent stake is finally announced.
On paper it was a mouth-watering clash. But it rarely seemed as if United truly believed in their prospects for success. Since their fate was in their hands, they hardly played like they wanted to win. The Munich ultras immediately picked up on this flaw. “This is the library,” they chanted before the match, maintaining the chorus until the final whistle.
Bayern fans in full voice at Old Trafford 😍#UCL pic.twitter.com/NW2p7OBXuV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2023
By then, huge areas of red seats could be seen. After Coman's goal, the stalwarts were in no mood to stay in the team any longer than necessary. In this difficult era for United, they knew how the script would end. Kane could be forgiven for thinking he dodged a bullet. Would he like any part of the raucous soap opera that has come to define this place? Or did he feel justified in choosing to chase the top prize at Bayern? Judging by United's latest collapse, this issue could not detain him for long.
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