Why Harry Kane was subbed in Bayern Munchen vs Real Madrid in the Champions League

In the high-stakes Champions League semi-final clash between Bayern Munchen and Real Madrid, the German giants held a narrow one-goal lead courtesy of an Alphonso Davies strike at the Santiago Bernabeu. With the prospect of a final date looming against domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund, tensions were running high as the match approached its critical moments.

In a surprising turn of events, Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel made a crucial decision in the 85th minute by substituting the prolific England striker Harry Kane with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, reported by GOAL. This move came at a pivotal juncture in the game, with the possibility of extra time and penalties still on the cards. Just minutes after Kane’s substitution, Real Madrid’s substitute Joselu capitalized on a defensive error by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, netting an equalizer in the 88th minute. Joselu then delivered the final blow with a 91st-minute winner, overturning Bayern’s lead and sealing Real Madrid’s dramatic comeback victory.

Thomas Tuchel’s Explanation

Following the match, Tuchel provided insight into his decision to replace Kane, citing the England international’s struggle with back pain. Tuchel revealed that Kane was unable to continue due to his back issue, which had caused his back to seize up during the game.

Tuchel said: “He couldn’t keep going. He played with back pain and he couldn’t keep going, his back froze up. We started with a front four and all four had to go out with injury or cramp. The front four all said they had to go. It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch. Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets. But on the other, there were too many injuries, a few too many substitutions, too many cramps.”

Additionally, Tuchel highlighted that Kane was not the only player affected by injuries and cramps, as several members of Bayern Munchen’s front four had also signaled their inability to continue. While acknowledging the disappointment of the loss, Tuchel emphasized that his team had given their all on the pitch and expressed no regrets despite the result.

Owen Hargreaves disbelief

The decision to substitute a proven goalscorer like Kane in a crucial match of such magnitude raised eyebrows among experts and fans alike. Former Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves expressed surprise at the substitution, highlighting Kane’s impressive goal-scoring record and durability. Hargreaves questioned the rationale behind Tuchel’s decision, particularly given the limited time remaining in the game and the potential for extra time. Despite speculation, Tuchel’s move to replace Kane with Choupo-Moting remains a subject of debate, with differing opinions on its strategic merit.

Owen Hargreaves said to TNT Sports of the decision to replace Harry Kane: “I’ll tell you what was unexpected, Harry Kane going off the pitch. That’s one of the biggest subs I’ve ever seen in a game of football of that magnitude. To take off a guy that’s scored 44 goals, who is the most durable player pretty much anywhere and you bring on another striker in Choupo-Moting. Maybe he wanted height for corners, I don’t know. You cannot take him off. There’s five minutes left in the game, there’s 10 minutes of extra-time, 15 minutes.”

Harry Kane’s empty-handed season

With Bayern Munchen’s Champions League dreams dashed and domestic honors out of reach, Harry Kane’s debut season with the club is set to conclude without silverware. As questions arise regarding Kane’s future and Tuchel’s impending departure, the Allianz Arena faces a period of reflection and decision-making ahead of the summer transfer window. With significant decisions looming, Bayern’s management must navigate a challenging offseason as they seek to regroup and rebuild for the future.