12 December 2023 , 22:14
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The off-the-record party line from Old Trafford is that Tottenham would never have sold Harry Kane to Manchester United, no matter what outlandish sum was offered.
And perhaps that is true. But what is equally likely is that the feedback from Kane, the chat in the back-channels, suggested he might not be overly keen on joining one of the few elite clubs that does not have an unquenchable thirst for attack.
And, if that was the case, this surprisingly low-key contest proved Kane right. Low-key? Well, after being comprehensively out-sung by a boisterous Bavarian contingent, it took the home faithful 20 minutes to pipe up.
And their first meaningful chant of encouragement? Attack, attack, attack. Since when does a Manchester United team, playing at Old Trafford in a truly marquee game, need the crowd to tell them to get on the front foot? Well, pretty much since Sir Alex Ferguson left the dug-out, to be honest.
Under Erik ten Hag, this is a United team that CAN beat blue-chip opposition but it is not a United team that thrills the watcher to the core. Not even close to being one.
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This was, pretty much, a full-strength Bayern team - but it was a full-strength Bayern team operating with half-strength power, knowing their qualification as group winners meant this contest had a degree of irrelevance for them. Yet still, the German side made most of the first half running and, even on an occasion such as this, United seemed happy to let them.
Harry Kane is loving life at Bayern Munich (Getty Images)What's your thoughts about Manchester United? Let us know in the comments below!
There is no doubt Ten Hag has assembled a squad that is more suited to a counter-attacking game, mainly because he has midfield personnel who are not overly accomplished in the passing department. And it is certainly not uncommon for modern teams to rely on what they like to call quick transition nowadays.
United also have players who should be suited to counter-punching, although Marcus Rashford was missing through illness for this engagement. But Alejandro Garnacho will be a force, make no mistake. The 19-year-old is full of rough edges but, once again, he showed an ambition and adventure that has, amongst his team-mates, so often been lacking.
Erik ten Hag is struggling to get a tune out of Manchester United (Getty Images)Against quality defenders, not much came off for Garnacho and an obsession with finding the Hollywood finish or the Hollywood pass will need to fade pretty quickly. But he will be a very useful player for United, particularly if Ten Hag can eventually turn the team into a far more assertive unit.
Yet as Bayern eased off even more in the second half - with one eye on Bundesliga commitments - United still struggled to impose themselves on proceedings. And Bayern did ease off, with Kane dropping deeper and deeper in search of involvement until he finally came up with the assist for Kingsley Coman’s goal.
On occasions, Kane might have allowed himself a look around an area that could have been his post-Spurs home. But what he would have seen - and heard - is a Theatre of Dreams where no-one is dreaming. Quite simply, they seem resigned to trying to encourage a team that can no longer go toe-to-toe with the very best in the game, that can no longer swap attacking blows for attacking blows, that no longer creates a wealth of chances.
And that is why Kane will be thankful that, for whatever reason, his career is now based in Munich, not Manchester.