Harry Kane proved to be Celtic’s nightmare as Bayern Munich took advantage of the Champions League tie on Wednesday night.
Celtic were beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich, and despite a late fightback from the home team, it’s all in the German club’s hands to progress into the last 16.
There is no doubt that there will be a sense of frustration from the Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, including how Kane was left unmarked twice.
Before Michael Olise opened the scoring with a stunning left-footed effort, Kane had an ample chance to score from a corner, but his effort hit the side netting.
That was a warning to Celtic and you think going into the break it would be addressed and dealt with, but think again!
Kane proceeded to score minutes after the restart when he volleyed home from the back post after Alistair Johnston left him free as a bird.
Harry Kane ‘surprised’ by Celtic and Alistair Johnston’s marking
It’s bad enough leaving a striker of low quality alone in the six-yard box from a set-piece, but to do it to Kane – one of the world’s best – is criminal.
That’s why Thierry Henry was critical of Celtic and he asked Kane if he was ‘surprised’ by the opposition’s actions.
The England striker told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (12/02/25 at 10:15 pm) that he was taken aback and he ‘didn’t know what happened’ with Johnston for his goal because he was previously ‘man-marking’ him.
“I just knew there was going to be another chance in the game, for me,” said Kane. “It was a similar play from the set-play at the back post and this time I was able to connect with it well.
“That’s part and parcel of being a number nine. I had a bit of time to see that ball come in and finished it off nicely.”
Henry then asks Kane: “Harry, well done, first and foremost. I want to ask you something. How surprised were you to see that you did twice the same corner? A bit different, I would say because Johnston stayed with you the first time, you made a move and you had a header on the back post. And you were alone.
“The second time, you had three blocks in front of you. People moving people away from the second post and you were alone. How surprised were you at that time, in the Champions League, you alone in the six-yard box?”
Kane responded: “Yeah, I was a little bit, to be honest. Obviously, I had that chance in the back end of the first half and I should have done better with that, but I was still man-marked, in that moment.
“I think we had a corner just before and I was still man-marked, but that one, I don’t know what happened whether he (Johnston) got caught amongst the blocks.
“But I said to Josh (Kimmich) and Michael (Olise) to just keep delivering to that back post. Even if I was one-v-one, I fancied my chances to get on the end of it, but on that particular one, it kind of just opened up for me.
Johnston’s stats for Celtic against Bayern Munich
Johnston has been a consistent performer for Celtic ever since Ange Postecoglou brought him to the club in 2023.
But during the last two European matches – Villa Park and Bayern – his performances have been iffy and he didn’t cover himself in glory when defending Kane from corners.
