Manuel Neuer hails ‘phenomenon’ Harry Kane for brilliant start with Bayern Munich
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates showing fingers after he scored his third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after he scored his third goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's 4th goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
Bayern's Harry Kane, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
Galatasaray's Sacha Boey, right, and Davinson Sanchez, left, challenge for the ball with Bayern's Harry Kane during the Champions League group A soccer match between Bayer Munich and Galatasaray at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.
MUNICH (AP) 鈥� England captain Harry Kane has made a brilliant start in Germany, where 15 goals in 10 Bundesliga games have matched another Bayern Munich great鈥檚 league record.
Gerd M眉ller is the only other player to have scored so many after the first 10 rounds, a feat he managed in the 1968-69 season.
Kane, who joined Bayern in a Bundesliga-record transfer from Tottenham in the offseason, reached M眉ller鈥檚 tally with hat tricks in consecutive games 鈥� first against Darmstadt in an 8-0 rout, then against Borussia Dortmund as he helped his team to a 4-0 win in 鈥渄er Klassiker鈥� last weekend.
He also starred in the Champions League, scoring twice Wednesday to shoot Bayern into the next round with a 2-1 win over Galatasaray.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a phenomenon and we鈥檙e proud that he鈥檚 playing for us in the team,鈥� Bayern captain Manuel Neuer said.
The question now is whether Kane can maintain his form and possibly beat Robert Lewandowski鈥檚 Bundesliga record of 41 goals in a season. The Poland star, now playing for Barcelona, managed that feat for Bayern by scoring in the last minute on the final day of the 2020-21 season, when he finally beat the previous best-mark of 40 goals scored by M眉ller in 1971-72.
Kane is already on his way to beating both.
The 30-year-old player is assisted by the likes of Leroy San茅 and Jamal Musiala, who are benefiting too from his presence 鈥� as coach Thomas Tuchel predicted before the season. Kane has set up five goals for his Bayern teammates in the Bundesliga and two in the Champions League.
Kane鈥檚 movement and anticipation, unselfish play, and leadership qualities are all helping the team.
鈥淚 said at the beginning that Harry as a personality, as a fixed point, as a character will make the players around him better through the way he plays, through his presence,鈥� Tuchel said.
Tottenham has had to adjust the way it plays since his departure.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can replace Harry, like-for-like. Another one of him doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥� Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said.
But Kane鈥檚 goals haven鈥檛 propelled Bayern to the top of the table 鈥� not yet at least.
The Bavarian powerhouse trails Bayer Leverkusen by two points going into the 11th round. Kane will get a chance to build on his tally when promoted Heidenheim visits for the first time in the league on Saturday.
Leverkusen hosts Union Berlin on Sunday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer