Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel, has revealed that Harry Kane asked to be substituted after struggling with injury late in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, reports 90minute.com.
With 84 minutes on the clock and Bayern leading 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) at the time, Tuchel opted to withdraw both Kane and Jamal Musiala, leaving him without his two most influential forwards when Joselu’s late double subsequently forced Bayern to chase the game again.
Tuchel has faced intense criticism for his removal of Kane, with many blaming mismanagement for the defeat, but the boss has now revealed his striker was battling injury at the time of his substitution.
“Kane was having back problems,” Tuchel revealed. “It was no longer possible (for him to continue). We started with a front four and all four had to go out with injury or cramp. The front four all said they had to go.
“It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand, it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch. Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets. But on the other, there were too many injuries, a few too many substitutions, too many cramps.”
Bayern’s elimination from Europe means Kane will end his first season with the club without a single trophy, having seen his side fall short in both the DFB Pokal and DFL Supercup earlier this year, as well as being a distant second to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table.
