‘Nervous’ Harry Kane scores on Bundesliga debut as Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen
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England striker Harry Kane connected play superbly on his Bundesliga debut, going close several times before his 75th-minute opener.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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BREMEN – England striker Harry Kane admitted he was “nervous” on his Bayern Munich debut, after scoring one and assisting another as his side won 4-0 at Werder Bremen in the season opener on Friday.
Kane, who arrived in Germany the previous Saturday after a €100 million (S$147.5 million) move from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, providing the assist for Leroy Sane’s opener just three minutes in, before scoring midway through the second half.
Billed as the missing link one year after the German champions lost forward Robert Lewandowski, Kane connected play superbly, going close several times before his 75th-minute opener.
Kane’s goal snuffed out Bremen’s second-half fightback and opened the floodgates.
Sane scored another and French teenager Mathys Tel, who had replaced Kane, got on the score sheet in injury time to ensure Bayern finished the opening day atop the league table.
“It was a good night” Kane told broadcaster DAZN after the match. “We started well with a goal in the first few minutes.”
“I was a little bit nervous (and) excited to play the game, of course. For sure, there were a few butterflies, but as always when I get on the pitch, instinct takes over.”
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, who was instrumental in bringing the England captain to Munich, lauded the striker.
“He had a constant influence,” the former Chelsea manager said. “He’s simply very, very smart. He knows what he’s doing and he’s unbelievably precise...”
Bayern’s Harry Kane (second from right) scores the 2-0 lead next to Bremen’s Marco Friedl (right) and Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka (centre).
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Kane arrived as both Tottenham and England’s top goal scorer but Tuchel said the striker’s creativity and link-play shone through.
He said: “He makes every player around him better because of his awareness. It was a very, very good debut.”
Winners of the past 11 straight Bundesliga titles, Bayern last lost a season opener in 2011, They had not lost in the first round as defending champions since 2001.
They came into the season under scrutiny, particularly after losing 3-0 to RB Leipzig in the previous Saturday’s German Super Cup. AFP
