Harry hopes win Kane be 'turning point' for Bayern

MUNICH, Germany — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane hopes Tuesday's 3-0 win over Lazio, which secured progress to the Champions League last eight, will be a "turning point" in the club's season.

Bayern came into Tuesday's match having won just one in five games, a run which included losing the first leg 1-0 in Rome and also caused it to fall 10 points behind league leader Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

The run cost manager Thomas Tuchel his job, with the club and coach issuing a statement saying he would end his contract early in the summer.

Kane, who has scored at a remarkable rate despite Bayern's struggles, notched a brace in the win and now has 33 goals in 32 games in all competitions since arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Speaking to reporters after the victory while holding the man-of-the-match trophy and a schnitzel burger, Kane said he hoped it was "a turning point for the rest of the year".

"If we perform like that in most games we're going to come out with a victory. It was a pleasing day," said the England international.

"It's been a good season so far in terms of the goals but as a team we know we can do better.

"I'm trying to help that situation, the team are trying to help that situation, and I hope we can use this as a turning point to push on in the Bundesliga and see if we can put pressure on Leverkusen — and see who we can get in the next round of the Champions League."

Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller said qualifying for the last eight was "not salvation... but a very important step" for the under-fire club.

The 34-year-old, who has at times called out his side's struggles, told Amazon Prime the win showed the season was not over for the German champion.

"I've said it before — it's not a complete shambles here, we're sticking together off the pitch, we've just had a few football problems on it.

"We know how important it was to progress today."

Coach Tuchel told Amazon Prime he had injured himself during his prematch motivational speech.

"I don't know if the players know about it, they might have wondered why I sat for 90 minutes, but that's why."

"We've got very big goals and the minimum goal for all of us is the quarterfinal," said Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021.

Tuchel's prematch pep talk worked wonders to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals but it came at a cost to his toe.

Tuchel said he kicked a box in the locker room during his speech to his players with the German champion desperate for a win to turn its season around.

"The motivational speech before the game cost me my right toe," Tuchel said. "I was treated on the spot but did not have the courage to take the shoe off because I did not think I would get it back on."

Bayern kept its slim hopes of silverware this season alive while likely giving outgoing coach Tuchel a stay of execution until the quarterfinals in April.

"It's the most difficult trophy to win in Europe, probably the world," said Tuchel.

"But it doesn't get any easier or more difficult if you have a long contract or if you're leaving at the end of the season."

Kane described the manner of Tuchel's impending exit as "unusual" but added: "Nights like this can change the season. I'm proud of the boys — we just have to keep this momentum up."

Ciro's chance

With Tuchel allowed to keep the seat warm until the summer, the coach promised to be more "ruthless".

On Tuesday, he benched big-money signing Kim Min-jae for Eric Dier, while moving Joshua Kimmich — a fixture in midfield for Bayern and Germany — to rightback.

Bayern pushed Lazio back early with the fit-again Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala going close.

Scorer of the first leg's only goal, Ciro Immobile had a golden chance to extend Lazio's lead after a Matthijs de Ligt mistake in the 36th minute but dragged his header just wide.

The miss would prove costly with Kane breaking through moments later, heading in a scuffed Raphael Guerreiro shot to even up the tie.

Mueller, another to see more game time after the announcement of Tuchel's impending departure, doubled Bayern's lead in first-half stoppage time, heading in a De Ligt shot in trademark poacher fashion.

Despite a prolific run in front of goal since arriving from Tottenham, the German media joked the famously trophy-less Kane had cursed Bayern, in danger of a first season without silverware since 2012.

The England captain made sure Bayern stayed in Europe though, turning in from close range after Sane forced a save from Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel, his 33rd goal in as many appearances this season.

With Lazio striker Immobile taken off with a knee injury, the visitor looked toothless in attack as Bayern gently controlled proceedings to take the sting out of the game.

Bayern kept its first clean sheet in eight games with captain Manuel Neuer tying the Champions League record of 57 set by Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas.

Agencies