Harry Kane’s debut season with Bayern Munich seems to be encountering challenges, as reports suggest a rift between Thomas Tuchel and a key player.
Kane made a high-profile move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern last summer, aiming for success and trophies with his new club. However, Bayern’s recent 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen has left them trailing their rivals by five points in the Bundesliga standings, with only 13 matches remaining.
During the match, Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side not only outplayed Bayern on the counterattack but also restricted the reigning champions to just one shot on target. Kane’s involvement was notably limited, with the striker touching the ball only 18 times, marking his poorest performance in a Bayern jersey.
However, it’s not Kane but one of his teammates who seem to have encountered a disagreement with the under-pressure manager Tuchel.
According to Bild, Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt was left “angry” by Tuchel’s decision to exclude him from the starting lineup. Despite starting Bayern’s previous five games, De Ligt found himself on the bench as Tuchel adopted a back-three system for the match.
Instead, Tuchel opted to field new signing Eric Dier alongside Kim Min-Jae and Dayot Upamecano, both of whom had recently returned from international duty and injury, respectively.
This decision not only backfired on the field but also seems to have affected the team dynamic. De Ligt, speaking to reporters after the match, clarified that he was fully fit and not sidelined due to injury.
Bild suggests that the defender has long harbored doubts about his relationship with Tuchel, and the strained rapport could potentially influence his decision to remain at the club beyond this season. Bayern’s struggles in the title race have intensified speculation about Tuchel’s future.
José Mourinho has emerged as a possible successor, especially after he departed from Roma last month.
