Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is a bit of an enigma. Compared to regular No. 9s like Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland, the English captain has a playing style which stands out in its uniqueness. In an interview with Hamzah Khalique-Loonat of Times Sport, the striker himself explained what is going on.
“When a team likes to press, I like to drop, sometimes even into defensive areas, to see if the center back’s fully committed to follow all the way — it takes a lot for teams to really commit,”
says Kane. “That’s why sometimes you see me in that No. 6 or No. 8 position on the half-turn.”
“In the final third, we don’t really play with an out-and-out No. 9. We almost play with two No. 10s, with wingers that attack inside and sometimes occupy the center backs, who are not quite sure whether to go in with me or to stay back.”
“Every game is different,” says the England captain. “Some games when you play, it’s a low block, you don’t get too much space, you have to just find areas and movement in the box.”
“When I drop deep and play the passes wide, I think arriving late into the box or the pocket definitely frees me up,” Kane says. “Sometimes when you’re a No. 9 and you’re almost man-marked by the center halves it’s hard to get away, whereas arriving a bit later allows you to make them run inside out. I try to use my brain and football intelligence to see where the space is and utilize it.”
Football intelligence, hmm? Sounds like someone Bayern Munich fans would be familiar with. Well, that’s in the past now. Harry Kane is here to achieve the most he can, and his scoring form has never been better. Will his unconventional style pan out when it matters, during the latter stages of the Champions League? Fans will have to wait and see.
