Thomas Tuchel is underneath growing stress after defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio; Harry Kane is the Bundesliga’s high scorer however might finish one other season and not using a trophy; watch Bochum vs Bayern Munich on Sunday, reside on Sky Sports Football; kick-off 4.30pm

After profitable 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, Bayern Munich are solely ever a few defeats from disaster. Unfortunately for Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane, that is the place the German giants now discover themselves.

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen prolonged Xabi Alonso’s side’s lead at the top of the table to 5 factors, and that was adopted up by a 1-0 loss at Lazio in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.

But it is not simply the outcomes which might be inflicting alarm in Bavaria – it is the performances, too. Not solely did Bayern fail to attain in both of their final two matches, however they solely recorded a mixed complete of 1 shot on the right track.

Bayern do not even have the DFB-Pokal to fall again on, having been shocked by third-tier aspect Saarbrucken within the second spherical. Tuchel’s aspect additionally misplaced the German Super Cup to RB Leipzig on Kane’s debut – elevating the prospect of one other season and not using a trophy for the England captain.

That’s not the sort of season that is accepted in Munich. Less than a 12 months into his reign, Tuchel is underneath critical stress.

Tuchel: I am unable to clarify it

Tuchel joined Bayern in March final 12 months and rapidly wrapped up one other Bundesliga title – the primary of his profession.

But in reality, a lot of the work had been accomplished by Julian Naglesmann, his predecessor, who was surprisingly sacked with the champions only one level behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Tuchel’s aspect solely received the title on objective distinction and Dortmund would have been topped champions if that they had not drawn at dwelling to Mainz, who completed ninth, on the season’s remaining day.

Statistically, Bayern have improved within the Bundesliga this season, profitable extra factors, scoring extra and conceding fewer targets per sport than within the earlier marketing campaign.

But even that enchancment hasn’t been sufficient to maintain up with Leverkusen, who’re nonetheless but to lose in any competitors this season.

Meanwhile, Tuchel has didn’t win any of the three Champions League knockout matches he has overseen as Bayern boss, and has misplaced two of his three matches within the DFB-Pokal.

In complete, Tuchel has now misplaced 10 of his 43 matches as Bayern supervisor. It took Nagelsmann 84 video games to succeed in that mark.

The former Chelsea supervisor’s techniques have been known as into query just lately, too, with a shock swap to a 3-4-3 formation at Leverkusen leading to failure.

Tuchel’s desire for Eric Dier, who solely arrived in January, over Matthijs de Ligt at centre-back has additionally prompted consternation.

After the defeat at Lazio, Tuchel insisted he was not involved about his future. But the top coach additionally admitted he was “not sure” what had gone incorrect, including “I can’t explain it”.

Being unable to reply these questions isn’t a great signal and, as Nagelsmann’s exit confirmed, Bayern coaches are not often granted a lot time to seek out the solutions.

Kane can not carry the burden anymore

Bayern’s issues have come to a head prior to now week however maybe that they had been mendacity underneath the floor for a while.

Kane’s 28 targets in his first 27 video games after arriving from Tottenham papered over the cracks – and have been bailing out his fellow forwards.

Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are injured however Leroy Sane has not scored within the Bundesliga since October, Jamal Musiala has no targets in his final six video games and Thomas Muller has solely discovered the online twice all season.

Kane might solely carry the burden for thus lengthy. The tipping level got here towards Leverkusen and Lazio, when he recorded a complete of six touches within the opposition field.

On Sky Sports News, Danny Mills described Kane as “anonymous” within the Stadio Olimpico. But there’s solely a lot a No 9 can do if the staff behind them is not functioning.

Speaking on CBS, Jamie Carragher known as Bayern “a team of individuals, not a team right now”. Muller final week advised his team-mates lacked braveness, telling Sky Sports: “We are showing significantly better approaches in training.”

Kane was extra measured on Wednesday, urging his team-mates to “keep fighting” when chatting with TNT Sports.

But the prospect of one more season ending empty-handed will not be misplaced on Kane, whose failure to gather a staff trophy regardless of receiving a number of particular person awards is now notorious.

Since making his skilled debut 13 years in the past, Kane has misplaced within the Champions League, Carabao Cup and Euro 2020 finals, whereas he has by no means completed increased than second within the league.

His transfer to Bayern – who’ve received 27 trophies since Kane’s first skilled look – was meant to lastly deliver an finish to that drought.

But the one trophy coming Kane’s manner this season could also be one other particular person award for topping the Bundesliga scoring charts – a prize that appears curiously just like the cannon on Arsenal’s badge…

‘Hard to be too important of Kane’

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright talking on The Football Show:

“It’s hard to be too critical because we are talking about a player who has scored 28 goals in 29 games this season.

“Tuchel has bought the most effective out of him. It’s extra of a dip than one thing indicative of what is occurred this season.

“He’s using him slightly differently to how he was used at Spurs. We were used to him dropping deep and linking the play at Spurs.

“He would not try this as a lot at Bayern. There are fewer touches and fewer passes, however extra photographs and touches within the opposition field. So though he is not as concerned of their play, he’s more practical by way of goalscoring.

“But when he’s not scoring, he does look a little more isolated. That’s the problem for him at the moment I think.”

Watch Bochum vs Bayern Munich on Sunday, reside on Sky Sports Football; kick-off 4.30pm.

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