Bundesliga End of Season Awards: FC Bayern's Player of the Season
The streak has ended. Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the Meisterschale has finally loosened after 11 seasons at the top of the pile. This will undoubtedly frustrate the hierarchy, players, and fans of the club who demand success. Ultimately, it was near impossible task when faced with so many high-profile injuries and the white-hot form of Bayer Leverkusen who snapped Die Rekordmeister’s run. As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Bayern Munich have been very, very good.
It’s been a down season for the Bavarian giants, but they are certainly not out. A club built on hunger and success will breed new life once again in the not-too-distant future. Who better to headline that act than one Harry Kane. The Englishman finally parted ways Tottenham and the Premier League this season. The hunt for silverware a priority. Although it never came, it wasn’t for any want of trying. The 31-year-old came with a reputation and delivered on it – an astounding 36 goals and 8 assists in 32 games. Figures which equate to 1.17xGI (Goal Involvement) per match.
The striker does exactly what anyone requires of their man leading the line. Of his 36 goals only 3 came from outside the box, highlighting how lethal he is from 18 yards or less. With a flawless penalty record of 5 from 5, Kane is an assured forward. Add to that his capabilities of dropping out into the field and creating from deep. Kane often drifted back, pulling centre-halves with him and thus creating space for speedy wingers like Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané to get in behind. The latter struck up a formidable partnership together especially prior to the winter break. With Kane highly likely to stick around in Bavaria, newly appointed coach Vincent Kompany will have no shortage of goals given the striker’s keen eye for the net.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE:
One could spend sleepless nights picking Harry Kane’s best performance this campaign. Hitting four hat-tricks and a shedload of braces makes the decision difficult, but of those Matchday 9 stands out. Facing SV Darmstadt, there was only going to be one outcome. However, the game took several unusual turns as Joshua Kimmich saw red first while both Gjasula and Maglica departed. A scoreless half despite 10-men against 9-men. The floodgates would eventually open in the 51st-minute as Mazraoui crossed onto the head of Kane to relieve pressure. Kane would assist Musiala from a cleverly worked short freekick soon after.
The game was beyond doubt, but Kane’s iconic moment came just after the hour. Darmstadt flooded forward and lost possession in attack. Thomas Müller nicked the ball and fed the English international. Inside his own half, Kane took an instinctive glance at the field ahead. Spotting Marcel Schuhen off his line, he took on the speculative 56-metre shot. Like a pro golfer using his wedge in the Augusta Masters, the strike measured to perfection and rippled in the net. Manuel Neuer’s reaction spoke a thousand words. Müller and Musiala added the extras, Kane chipped in with the last of the night. Waiting on the shoulder of the defender he remained cool to curl in at the near post. An 8-0 win more than sending the Bayern fans into dreamland.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Kane’s sheer brilliance left no votes for other members of the Bayern Munich squad. However, I think it would be remiss to ignore the qualities of Jamal Musiala who provided 10 goals and 6 assists despite just 24 outings in an injury-ridden campaign. His twinkling footwork is always a sight to behold. Leroy Sané may have endured a less impressive end to the season, but 8 goals and the joint-2nd most Bundesliga assists with 11 shows how sharp he was at stages. Joshua Kimmich also rediscovered form when he switched to the right-back position in the Ruckrunde.