FC Bayern finished the league phase of the Champions League in second place – and made a clear sporting statement in the process. After the 2-1 away win at PSV Eindhoven, Harry Kane assessed the Munich side’s performance and had some remarkably clear words to say about the quality of Bayern’s path in the top flight so far
After the last league duel in Eindhoven, which FC Bayern won 2-1, Harry Kane looked back on the past few weeks in the Champions League. The England international not only focused on the results, but above all on the difficulty of the tasks that Munich have had to overcome. „Seven wins from eight games shows what kind of team we are. I felt we probably had the toughest group of all. A lot of really difficult games: away against PSG, away against Arsenal, Chelsea at home, away here. And we had to go the hard way. So credit to everyone involved for the way we’ve handled every game,“ Kane explained after the final whistle
The goalscorer’s words underline the importance of second place in the league phase internally. The international away games in particular were among the most challenging tasks the competition currently has to offer
Maturity test passed
Second place after the league phase may seem unspectacular on paper, but the context makes it particularly valuable. Under Vincent Kompany, FC Bayern presented itself as stable, focused and mentally stable in Europe. The team did not allow itself to be rattled by pressure situations or high-class opponents. This is exactly what is reflected in Kane’s analysis
The fact that the attacker explicitly talks about the „hard way“ is more than just an empty phrase. Games at Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal not only demand tactical discipline, but also mental resilience. Added to this was the intense home game against Chelsea and the final performance in Eindhoven. FC Bayern had to earn their place among the top teams in Europe – and did so with a consistency that has not always been a given recently
With a view to the knockout phase, this attitude is likely to be decisive. FC Bayern now knows that it can hold its own even under difficult conditions. Kane’s words therefore seem less like self-praise and more like a sober stocktaking
Second place in the league phase is confirmation for Munich. FC Bayern is competitive, resilient and ready for the next steps in the top flight. Or, to put it in the words of its goal scorer: this team knows how to play the hard way – and that is precisely what can make the difference in the end.
