Thomas Muller offered a typically blunt assessment following Bayern Munich’s 2-1 home defeat to Inter Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League clash — and Harry Kane was at the center of it.
Goals from Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi put the Italian side in the driver’s seat ahead of next week’s return fixture. But according to Muller, things could have unfolded very differently had Bayern capitalized early — specifically, if Kane had finished a golden opportunity with the score still goalless.
Kane’s Miss Proves Costly
In the 25th minute, Kane — Bayern’s marquee signing from Tottenham — found himself through on goal thanks to a precise ball from Michael Olise. However, the England captain missed from close range, fluffing what many are calling a “sitter.” Just ten minutes later, Martinez made Bayern pay by opening the scoring for Inter.
Muller: “Harry’s Miss Changed the Feeling”
Veteran forward Thomas Muller, who is expected to leave Bayern at the end of the season, reflected candidly post-match:
“We unfortunately missed a big chance in the first half with Harry — that would’ve given us a different feeling,” Muller told reporters.
“Inter have good players with the ball who are able to take the pace off the game and slow it down, then play long balls to their strikers. They have experienced and physical players — it wasn’t a walk in the park and we didn’t expect it to be. We created chances in the second half but unfortunately couldn’t convert them.”
Muller had briefly given Bayern hope with an 85th-minute equalizer, but Frattesi’s goal on the counter just minutes later sealed Inter’s advantage.
Kane’s Record Still Impressive
While Kane’s miss proved pivotal on the night, it doesn’t erase the impact he’s had since arriving in Germany. The 30-year-old has netted 34 goals in 40 matches this season — including 10 in the Champions League — helping Bayern close in on reclaiming the Bundesliga title.
Since his $100
R1,941.33 million move from Tottenham in 2023, Kane has scored a remarkable 87 goals in 85 games across all competitions.
What’s Next?
Bayern must now overturn the deficit in the second leg if they hope to reach the final, which will be held at their own stadium on May 30. With the pressure mounting, all eyes will be on whether Harry Kane can redeem himself on the biggest stage.
