SAEDNEWS: Harry Kane admits Bayern Munich’s Champions League path is fraught with danger, but players and staff remain determined to prove Uli Hoeneß wrong: they don’t see themselves as underdogs.
For decades, Bayern Munich has carried the same mantra: the Bundesliga title is non-negotiable, the German Cup demands at least a final, and in the Champions League, the club must “go as far as possible.” Yet, on the eve of the new European campaign, Bayern’s aura of invincibility appears shaken.
The unexpected source of doubt? Uli Hoeneß himself. At a recent DFL meeting, the club patriarch tempered ambitions, likening Bayern’s role in the Champions League to that of Hoffenheim — a statement that sent shockwaves through the fanbase and media alike.
Was this humility, realism, or simply lowering expectations to ease pressure?
Not everyone inside the squad shares Hoeneß’s cautious tone. Serge Gnabry was quick to counter, stressing that Bayern are no underdogs. “I’m hearing this for the first time,” he told Sky, adding: “We want to go as far as possible again. Anything is possible.”
Captain Manuel Neuer struck a similar chord, telling SPORT1 that Bayern’s fresh start in Europe is no reason for pessimism: “We’re all starting from scratch. That doesn’t sound like Hoffenheim — that sounds like Munich.”
Sporting director Max Eberl also pushed back on the underdog narrative, pointing to Chelsea’s dominance in the Club World Cup and PSG’s downfall as proof that form fluctuates: “There’s always speculation beforehand. We’re doing the same here.”
And then there is Harry Kane, who remains Bayern’s compass in turbulent waters. The English striker’s warning is blunt: Bayern cannot afford the mistakes of last season, when grueling playoff ties against Celtic Glasgow drained the squad physically and mentally.
“Two extra games can make a big difference,” Kane emphasized after Bayern’s recent win over HSV. Between facing Glasgow and domestic heavyweights like Leverkusen and Frankfurt, the team paid a heavy price. Injuries mounted, momentum slipped, and energy waned.
This season, Kane insists, must be different. Avoiding the playoff trap and securing a top-eight finish in the league phase are essential if Bayern want to preserve energy for the knockout stages.
The challenge is immense. Bayern’s draw places them alongside Europe’s elite: Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. Each match threatens to stretch the squad to its limits, both technically and mentally. The new format — expanded, demanding, and unforgiving — leaves no margin for error.
Still, inside the club, confidence simmers beneath the surface. Kane’s message is clear: Bayern cannot dwell on Hoeneß’s doubts. To regain their aura, they must start strong, avoid injuries, and let results dismantle the underdog narrative.
What truly worries Kane is not the opponents themselves but the grind of the season. He knows how quickly fatigue and injuries can derail ambitions. In his mind, Bayern’s greatest enemy may not be Arsenal or PSG, but time, scheduling, and survival.
And yet, this is Bayern Munich. A club that thrives under pressure, that redefines itself through adversity, and that still carries the weight of expectation every time it enters Europe’s biggest stage.
This fear may haunt Kane, but it could also ignite Bayern’s fight.
