Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany believes his squad has the attacking depth to compensate for the absence of Harry Kane as they prepare to face holders Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup round of 16 on Tuesday.
Kane, the England captain and Bundesliga top scorer with 14 goals, has netted 20 times across all competitions this season. However, he sustained a thigh muscle injury during Bayern's 1-1 league draw at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
While Kane is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, Kompany remains hopeful the striker could return before the Bundesliga's winter break begins on December 22. Bayern currently lead the Bundesliga standings by four points over Eintracht Frankfurt.
"There is a chance he could still play this year, but it’s difficult to say for certain," Kompany said at a press conference on Monday. "He will miss several games, and while you can’t replace a player like Harry or his goals one-for-one, we have other talented players who can step up."
Options to Fill the Gap
Kompany pointed to experienced attackers such as Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Michael Olise, and young talent Mathys Tel as potential solutions to cover Kane’s absence.
"We have a wealth of talent in the team," Kompany said. "It won’t be the same without Harry, who has already scored 20 goals this season, but we have dangerous players in attack. It will look different, but I’m confident we can adapt."
German Cup Ambitions
Bayern last lifted the German Cup in 2020 and have struggled in the competition since, failing to progress beyond the quarterfinals and suffering second-round eliminations in three of the last four seasons.
Kompany emphasized the significance of Tuesday's clash against Leverkusen, describing it as one of Germany's marquee fixtures. "We’re playing the Cup holders, one of the top two or three games in Germany," he said. "I hope our performance reflects the importance of the match."
As Bayern aim to break their recent German Cup drought, Kompany’s focus on leveraging the team's depth will be critical in navigating Kane's absence and continuing their strong domestic campaign.