Another Harry Kane show vindicates Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern masterplan
Thomas Tuchel took on two opponents on Saturday: Borussia Dortmund on the pitch and Sky Germany’s reporters and pundits off it.
Before the game, the 50-year-old had listened in on pre-match analysis that focused on Bayern Munich’s problems —their build-up play — and Borussia’s strengths – their pressing – and he didn’t make any attempts to hide his irritation. “I don’t want to disturb your experts talking about us,” he said sarcastically, keeping his answers curt.
After the final whistle, face to face with Lothar Matthaus and anchor Sebastian Hellmann, Tuchel feigned surprise at Bayern’s 4-0 win, citing some of the criticism that Matthaus, Didi Hamann and others had levelled at the team. “We won despite an apparent breakdown between me and the players, despite not taking any steps forward,” Tuchel said acidly, before finishing the interview prematurely and getting in a strong parting shot: “We won 4-0 today. Now you have to change your tune by 180 degrees. Have fun.”
To be fair to his critics, Tuchel’s Bayern had themselves performed a 180-degree turn in the space of three days. Their professionalism and all-round quality at Signal Iduna Park bore little resemblance to the embarrassing inadequacy that had been on show in the 2-1 defeat against third-division Saarbrucken in the cup on Wednesday. But the former Chelsea manager was within his rights to point out the rather overblown nature of some of the negative reporting. His Bayern side had won seven games and drawn twice, against Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, in the league before Saturday, and had won all three of their Champions League matches, too — against a backdrop of injuries, a squad that is dangerously thin in some areas and constant, enforced changes at the back. No wonder he was less than pleased to overhear Hellmann ask Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen “why did Bayern not get a better coach (after firing Julian Nagelsmann)?” before kick-off.
These are but amusing scuffles in the grand scheme of things, however. The German record title winners, stretched to their limits in midfield and defence because of injuries and Joshua Kimmich’s suspension, were under pressure to turn in a big performance at Dortmund — and they responded forcefully by playing the most complete game since Tuchel took over in April. Edin Terzic’s men had their moments when the visitors played a few sloppy passes, but “overall, they were on a different level,” as Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl admitted.
Who knew that having a €100m striker might make a difference? Harry Kane had missed the DFB Pokal exit as a precaution but Borussia could not cope with his movement, let alone his ice-cool finishing. His third hat-trick in Bayern colours upped his tally to 15 goals in 10 league games, putting him on course for 51 goals this season. (The Bundesliga record, set by Robert Lewandowski in 2021, stands at 41.) A couple of superb through balls for his team mates should have yielded even more goals for Bayern and more assists for him.
Kane and Bayern will ultimately be judged on their exploits in the Champions League. But it has already become painfully apparent for domestic opposition that the England captain has made winning games so much easier for his team. “He’s even better than I expected, it’s so much fun playing with him,” Jamal Musiala said.
While betting the house on Kane has undoubtedly worked out for Bayern, Saturday’s demonstration of power also offered some welcome clues that a more refined version of Tuchelball is beginning to emerge. Bayern haven’t always looked comfortable playing his more passive game, designed to create space for fast, attacking transitions. But they were able to mix things up against Dortmund and looked a lot more compelling by keeping the ball well and exposing Dortmund in a multitude of ways, as the four different types of goals they scored neatly illustrated.
Dayot Upamecano’s opener within four minutes came from a corner. Kane’s first goal not long after was one of those lightning raids that feel like a counter-attack, but it actually started in Bayern’s own box, with a slow build-up sucking Dortmund in and then Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sane breezing past opponents in wide-open spaces.
Their third was a classic counter attack after winning the ball in midfield and their fourth a finely-worked combination, Musiala and Kingsley Coman speeding up possession play to suddenly break through on the right. Kane was there once more, of course, to fire home. His understanding of the team’s play and vice versa is rapidly improving, which spells big trouble for everyone else.
Seasoned observers will note with caution that, in recent years, Bayern have often followed up convincing wins with relapses. But there’s no denying that results and performances are becoming more stable on the whole, as Tuchel’s ideas take hold and become more complex.
They’ve scored 38 goals in 10 Bundesliga games, and 26 points from 30 constitute their best start to a campaign since Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge a decade ago. If they can further increase their control of matches, possibly with the help of a new holding midfielder after the winter break, Tuchel will cut a more relaxed figure in front of the microphones. But he’d better be prepared for plenty of noise around the club regardless. Ironically, it might actually increase in line with Bayern’s points tally.
The more they grow in confidence and threaten to go back to outclassing competitors, the bigger the need for the local media to create headlines and controversies to make up for the lack of sporting excitement. Of all the problems one can face as a Bayern coach, however, it’s the still best one to have.
