Soccer-Kane unhappy at poor Bayern service, says Tuchel

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – Champions League – Lazio v Bayern Munich – Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy – February 14, 2024 Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File photo

(Reuters) – Harry Kane is not happy with “the way he is involved” in games of late but Bayern Munich are relying on his leadership to get their season back on track, manager Thomas Tuchel said ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga match at VfL Bochum.

FILE PHOTO:Soccer Football – Champions League – Lazio v Bayern Munich – Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy – February 14, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel reacts REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File photo

Bayern were beaten 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga last weekend and lost 1-0 at Lazio in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Kane, who has scored 28 goals in 29 appearances for Bayern in all competitions this season, failed to find the net in both defeats, and Tuchel said there appeared to be a disconnect between the striker and his team mates.

“Harry … already knows what he’s doing. And of course he’s unhappy with the way he’s involved at the moment. And we are dissatisfied with how we find and don’t find him (in games),” Tuchel told reporters.

“I have very rarely, perhaps never before, seen such a discrepancy between performances in training and matches, the way he scores, the way he leads the team, the way his team wins. It’s unbelievable. It’s absolutely world-class.

“And then how little we find him in the game? That’s a bit indicative of the current situation. But he’s the one who behaves like a captain. That’s why everything’s okay with Harry. He’s low maintenance at the very highest level.”

Serial Bundesliga champions Bayern trail leaders Leverkusen by eight points but have a game in hand. They host Lazio in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 5.

(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)