Kane cashes in to repay Bayern's faith

MUNICH, Germany — Harry Kane continued his successful start to life with Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League win over Manchester United, but late defensive slip-ups showed Thomas Tuchel's side remains a work in progress.

Bayern led 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 with two minutes remaining, but only just held on to win 4-3 after a late United rally.

The late lapse was similar to Bayern's 2-2 home draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, where the German champion twice led but was pegged back — eventually sharing the spoils after an injury-time penalty.

Kane, who famously has yet to win a trophy in his career, was open about his desire for team success as a motivation for his move to Bayern.

Bayern broke the bank to bring Kane to Germany, spending 100 million euros ($108 million), smashing its transfer record.

But like Bayern, which has won the past 11 Bundesliga titles, Kane's desire for silverware will not be satisfied with domestic success.

Since defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in 2020, Bayern has been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage in each of the past three seasons.

On the evidence of Wednesday night's late loss of concentration, the side still has significant room for improvement, particularly in the event of a match-up with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City juggernaut.

'Big price tag'

Before the match, Tuchel told reporters "with time (Kane) will make the players around him better. He will learn how to make them shine."

The England captain's impact was telling early on, and it was fitting that Leroy Sane, a player reborn this season with five goals in his last seven matches for club and country, would be the one to benefit.

After scoring a second-half penalty against United, Kane has five goals from five Bayern starts, while also proving a creative presence in build-up play.

The England captain spoke openly about his "price tag" after the match, acknowledging the expectations placed on him, both from inside and outside the German champion.

"Whenever there is a big price tag on your name, there is expectation and you want to repay the club who has put faith in you," Kane said.

"It's been really good to start the way I have. It's a big competition and we are one of the favorites, but first of all we need to get the job done in the group."

The six-time European champion has now won 20 Champions League opening fixtures in a row.

In that time, it had conceded just two goals — one fewer than it conceded in the second half on Wednesday.

Bayern will face sterner challenges than Erik ten Hag's struggling Manchester United

"It was a good start here tonight," said Kane. "Come the new year, hopefully we are in a good place and can look forward to those knockout games."

Onana apology

United goalkeeper Andre Onana said he had let his teammates down after a howler set the tone for the defeat to Bayern.

A third consecutive defeat ramps up the pressure on manager Ten Hag, and two late goals from Casemiro masked the gulf in class between the sides at the Allianz Arena.

However, United had started brightly until Sane's strike slipped through Onana's grasp in the 28th minute.

"After my mistake we lost control of the game. It's a difficult situation for us, for me especially because I'm the one who let the team down," Onana told TNT Sports.

The Cameroonian starred for Inter Milan on its run to last season's Champions League final, but has struggled in the early weeks of his United career since joining for 47 million pounds ($58 million).

The Red Devils have now conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time since 1978.

"My start in Manchester is not so good, it's not how I want (to play)," added Onana.

"Today is one of my worst games and it is difficult because we have big ambition, we want to win everything — it was a big opportunity for us to bounce back after the situation we are facing.

"It's a tough time. We have to be together and learn from our mistakes because it's the only thing to do."

For the first time in 37 years, United has lost four of its opening six games of the season.

Downward curve

Ten Hag earned plenty of plaudits for his first season in charge, as he led United back into the Champions League and ended a six-year trophy drought by lifting the League Cup.

But his side's downward curve dates back to the latter part of last season. Since a historic 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool in March, United has lost eight of its last 12 games away from home in all competitions.

After Sane's opener, Serge Gnabry doubled the host's lead before United pulled a goal back in the 49th minute through Rasmus Hojlund's deflected effort.

Bayern should have then ran up a far more convincing scoreline as it twice hit the woodwork, but eased up by bringing off Kane, Sane, Gnabry and Jamal Musiala.

Casemiro's first goal could have provoked a nervy finale had Mathys Tel not been given space to crash in Bayern's fourth.

The Brazilian midfielder then headed in his second with virtually the last action of the match.

"When you score three goals at Bayern, then you have to at least take a point," said Ten Hag.

But he was keen to point to a collective failure rather than pointing the blame at Onana.

"If you see the first 25 minutes, we had to score. But, if not, at least stay in the game and don't allow the opponent to score goals like we did. It's not only about one mistake."

AFP