May 8th 2024.
Thomas Tuchel's hopes of securing a trophy this season have been dashed. The Bayern Munich coach's decision to substitute Harry Kane during their match against Real Madrid has been met with criticism from former players Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes. With the Champions League semi-final tied at 2-2, Bayern had a chance to upset Madrid when Alphonso Davies scored in the 68th minute.
However, everything fell apart for Bayern after Tuchel replaced Kane with Eric Choupo-Moting in the 85th minute. Madrid's substitute Joselu scored twice in the dying minutes, securing their spot in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. Hargreaves, a former Bayern midfielder, was baffled by Tuchel's decision to remove Kane when they could have needed his goal-scoring prowess in the crucial minutes.
"I have to say, taking off Harry Kane was unexpected," Hargreaves expressed on TNT Sports. "It's one of the biggest substitutions I've ever seen in a game of this magnitude. Kane has been a key player for Bayern, scoring 44 goals and proving to be a durable player. To bring on another striker in Choupo-Moting at such a critical moment, I don't understand it. Maybe Tuchel wanted more height for corners, but you cannot take off your top scorer."
Scholes, a Manchester United legend, also weighed in on Tuchel's decision, suggesting it may have been a display of arrogance. "It's almost like an arrogant substitution," he stated. "As if Tuchel thought he could afford to take off his best goal-scorer and still win against Real Madrid. But even if they had scored one goal, there was still another half hour of play left in extra-time. It's a big risk to take off your best players in such a crucial match."
The outcome of the match has left Tuchel without a chance at winning a trophy this season, and it has also sparked speculation about his future with Bayern. The coach recently admitted that he is likely to leave the club, leading to rumors about a possible move to Manchester United. Regardless of what happens, Tuchel's decision to substitute Kane will continue to be a topic of discussion among football fans and experts.
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