Recovery time appears short for England captain Harry Kane as Bayern Munich prepares for a crucial Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

The 31-year-old striker is dealing with internal bleeding in his calf, forcing him to take a training break and highlighting Bayern's shortage of attacking options. The situation is exacerbated by the departure of Mathys Tel, who left for Tottenham during the winter transfer window, leaving Bayern's offense struggling for form.

The club's attacking woes were evident in the UEFA Champions League playoffs, where full-back Alphonso Davies had to step up and score a late equalizer against Celtic.

Harry Kane (1st L) of Bayern Munich shoots to score during a Bundesliga match against Heidenheim in Munich, Germany on Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)

As Bayern prepares for both the Frankfurt clash and a Champions League round of 16 tie against either Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid in March, key players such as Kane and Jamal Musiala have struggled to find consistency. Wingers Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, and Leroy Sane have also faced downturns in form.

With the Bundesliga's oldest squad on average and the third oldest in the Champions League behind Inter Milan and Atletico, Bayern appears to be reaching its limits. Their ambition of winning the 2025 Champions League final, which will be played on home soil on May 31, could be at risk.

Meanwhile, costly contract extensions for Musiala, Davies, and Manuel Neuer, combined with the club's mandate to cut expenses, are complicating restructuring efforts. Bayern also has yet to secure the signing of midfielder Joshua Kimmich, adding another layer of uncertainty.

While the team started the season strong, imbalances have emerged at a critical juncture. Despite these challenges, head coach Vincent Kompany and club leadership remain calm, even as internal tensions persist. A failure to reach the Champions League quarterfinals could intensify pressure behind the scenes.

Bayern leads the Bundesliga by eight points, but any struggles in domestic competition would only add to their concerns, particularly with the Champions League as their primary objective.

"Sovereignty looks different," club legend Thomas Muller said, referring to the team's inconsistency. Kimmich also acknowledged that their performances have wavered, leading to tight results.

To boost morale, Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl has painted a positive picture despite the team's recent struggles.

"For now, we've kept Leverkusen behind us in the league and advanced to the next round of the Champions League," Eberl said, though he is surely aware that improvements are necessary.

At the moment, mental and physical recovery appears to be the team's primary focus. However, as media speculation grows about potential consequences should results falter, scrutiny on players and staff is only intensifying. 

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)