Cologne Braces for Kane's Onslaught!
"When he's on the ball, it can hurt."
Translation: Harrison Kane (30), as stated by Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart (51).
Is Bayern's supreme striker, currently boasting an impressive 17 league goals in just 11 matches, unstoppable against FC this Friday (20:30, DAZN)?
Time to Face Kane's Challenge!
A powerful training session was witnessed at yesterday's practice: FC defenders Timo Hübers (27), Jeff Chabot (25), Dominique Heintz (30) and Luca Kilian (24) all honing their aerial skills using the header pendulum!
The device, not exactly a frequent occurrence recently, was brought out once again by Baumgart prior to the Bayern tussle. Kane himself has netted four of his 17 goals through headers (against Heidenheim, Darmstadt, Mainz and Leverkusen).
That should definitely be halted by Cologne. It'll be a Mountainous Task!
"An exceptional player! Unparalleled! And the self-assurance he radiates... he's an absolute boon to the league," Baumgart raves, "it's wonderful to see such young talents in the Bundesliga. The way he scores... it's just sheer pleasure. Unfortunately, concurrently..."
"One person alone can't possibly halt him," reveals Hübers regarding Kane. And, he carries on, "It won't help to exclude him completely for 90 minutes in a man-to-man battle, as you might have done in the past. It's all about not granting the passer-by the space beforehand to make targeted passes to Kane."
Might the header pendulum also prove beneficial in some way – possibly to gain a handle on the superstar in the air?!
FC, however, are desperate to sidestep conceding an unjust duel against the reigning champions prior to the match. Despite the unrest persisting at the Geißbockheim, FC have actually displayed sturdy performance in the past two games against Bayern. In the league decider in May, Cologne lost dearly by 2:1 just before the final whistle following a goal from Musiala, allowing Bayern to clinch the championship at the very last minute. In the first encounter, FC managed a point in Munich (1:1) and led all the way until the last moment!
Baumgart: "I always harbor faith in obtaining points against Bayern. I'll not lose that faith either. We must make their mistakes apparent. Unfortunately, they rarely do."
Should Kane not be around to face Baumgart's team for the first time this season, eager to continue his remarkable goal streak...
- The FC Cologne defense is deeply aware of the threat posed by Harry Kane in the Bundesliga, as depicted in Bild, given his extensive 17 goals in only 11 matches.
- To prepare for Kane, Cologne defender Timo Hübers emphasizes the importance of denying his teammates the necessary space to execute passes aimed specifically at Him. He also points out the potential effectiveness of the header pendulum training in gaining a sense of control during aerial confrontations.
- Bild's regional news covers the Bundesliga, with sport – Lighthouse Essen reporting on the first Bundesliga match between FC Cologne and Bayern Munich. This includes Baumgart's use of the header pendulum for training purposes, as a tactic to counteract Kane's aerial abilities.
Citations:
In-Depth Analysis:
- Defending against Harry Kane's aerial threat can be managed with the implementation of several tactics, including:
- Physical Presence: Utilize physically dominant center-backs like Mats Hummels or Dayot Upamecano, known for their prowess in aerial duels.
- Marking and Pressing: Close marking of Kane makes it challenging for him to find space to head the ball.
- Organized Defense: Harness a well-organized defense during set pieces, ensuring the necessary interception of crosses and headers.
- Quick Transitions: Implement a counter-pressing strategy to quickly recover the ball, lessening the opportunities for long-ball passes to Kane.
- Targeting Smaller Defenders: Utilize smaller, more agile defenders who can react more swiftly to Kane's headers.
- Defensive Structure: Employ a zonal defense strategy where each player covers specific sections of the box to intercept crosses and headers more effectively.
These tactics can potentially decrease Harry Kane's aerial threat and minimize his goal-scoring opportunities in the match against FC Cologne.
