Thomas Tuchel blames Harry Kane following Bochum defeat
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Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane on the touchline | Imago

Thomas Tuchel blames Harry Kane following Bochum defeat

Faruq Ibrahim 21:17 - 19.02.2024

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel highlighted Harry Kane's big miss as a contributing factor in their defeat to Bochum.

Harry Kane, the striking sensation who made the switch from Tottenham to Bayern Munich, has been under the spotlight for his exceptional goal-scoring prowess in his debut season at the Allianz Arena. 

Despite netting his 29th goal in 30 appearances in all competitions during Bayern's latest match, Kane faced criticism for a missed golden opportunity that could have sealed the game for his team. 

Bayern's encounter with Bochum ended in a surprising defeat, marking the team's third consecutive loss across Bundesliga and Champions League fixtures. The match was notably marked by interruptions from protests among the home supporters.

Tough Times at Allianz Arena

Bayern's recent form has been a cause for concern, with the team experiencing a rare three-game losing streak. This series of defeats includes disappointing outcomes against Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio, putting the Bavarian giants in a precarious position in both domestic and European competitions. 

The frustrations were compounded by Dayot Upamecano's red card, his second in as many matches, further challenging the team's resilience.

Tuchel Weighs In on Bayern's Struggle

Bayern's head coach, Thomas Tuchel, shared his thoughts on the match with DAZN, pinpointing missed chances, particularly by Harry Kane, as pivotal moments that could have altered the game's outcome. 

Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel | Imago
Bayern Munich's Thomas Tuchel | Imago

Tuchel emphasized the quality of opportunities created by his team and expressed his belief that the defeat was somewhat unjust, citing an xG (expected goals) value of 3.4 as evidence of their dominance. 

Despite the adversity faced, including playing with a man down, Tuchel praised his team's effort and highlighted the unique nature of this defeat compared to previous ones.

“We created some top-class chances. Harry's chance in the first half may have been the deciding factor’” Tuchel said.   

“If he finished that with one touch instead of trying to play it, the game is over. I don’t think today’s defeat was fair; I think a lot went against us. I think we had an xG value of 3.4 and we had four, five, six top-class chances. 

“We completely dominated the game and actually went behind out of nowhere. We never stopped putting in the effort until the end and then played with a man down for a long time. A lot went against us. I feel today's defeat is different to the last two," Tuchel explained

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