Kompany reveals plan behind Kane’s substitute role against Stuttgart | OneFootball

Harry Kane was one of six players rotated out of the starting XI that beat 1. FC Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal midweek, as Bayern Munich thrashed VfB Stuttgart 5-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

In an unfamiliar role as a substitute, the England captain was introduced around the hour mark and went on to score a hat-trick, leading Bayern to a dominant victory.

After the game, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany explained the rationale behind resting Kane.

“I had this change in mind before the game. We have four games in eleven days. If I start Harry in every game and he plays 90 minutes, I’ll be asked why he always plays,” Kompany said, adding:

“Whenever we’ve played against Stuttgart, we’ve gotten stronger as the game goes on. I had the feeling the spaces would open up more when Harry came on – it was a good moment for him. And he did what he always does.”

Reflecting on the overall performance, Kompany said:

“We didn’t get off to a bad start and Konrad Laimer scored thanks to our deep runs. Stuttgart always pressed high and stuck to their game, which made it intense. They got a grip in the first half, and we lost a little momentum. 

"In the second half, we focused more on vertical play. The substitutions and our physicality helped us turn in a much stronger display.”