Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or last night after a season in which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country. Those are remarkable numbers - like actually insane.

But the part I want to look at is how he manages to produce them while being so involved away from the penalty area.

Because Kane is a creator as well as a prolific goal scorer, but how can he do both at such elite levels? (well I guess now I can say Ballon D’or winner levels)

For me, understanding that relationship tells us far more about his success and evolution than simply describing him as just a ‘Complete striker’.

Let’s have a look…

One of the most important things to take from Kompany’s Bayern is how the players’ qualities fit together. Kane has the technical ability to receive under pressure and connect short passes, but he also has the range to find a winger on the opposite side or play into a runner’s path beyond the defence.

If you have that quality available (which Kane does in abundance), it should influence where you allow him to receive and what you ask the other forwards to do. A player who can see and execute those passes gives teammates a reason to threaten further forward, because there is somebody underneath the attack capable of finding them.

That suits the pace and movement Bayern have around him. The wide players can hold higher positions or attack inside towards the centre backs while Kane comes towards possession. Their runs give his passing a target and his passing helps them use their speed.

Kane has spoken about Kompany giving him freedom to receive deeper and arrive in the box later. He also explained that these qualities had developed at Tottenham, particularly through his relationship with Son. Kompany has given that existing ability a role within this Bayern team, representing exceptional coaching and management.

That is the coaching decision I find interesting: recognising what a player can do and arranging the relationships around him so those qualities become useful more often.

In other words - ‘getting the best out of your players’

The graphic below shows Kane’s 2025/26 Bundesliga touches, including his involvement outside the penalty area.

Compare that with Haaland’s league heat map from the same season.

These graphics cover different leagues. The colours show the distribution of touches, rather than time spent in each area.

Across all competitions in 2025/26, Opta reports that 14.8% of Kane’s touches were inside the opposition box, compared with 26.8% for Haaland. Kane still scored 61 goals for Bayern. So, the figures establish the question; the footage below helps explain how his role works. [1]

In this first sequence against Arsenal, look at the positions around Bayern’s build-up and how they change as the ball moves. The annotations highlight a deeper space becoming available and Arsenal having to adjust who applies pressure.

When a player moves away from an area, a teammate can become available to enter it. That is why I would follow the rotation before assessing the position Kane ends up in. Who has moved higher? Who is still available behind the ball? Which opponent now has to make a decision? And ultimately, does this movement give Bayern chances to move the ball closer to the opponent’s net?

A striker coming short can help connect possession, but somebody still needs to threaten the defence. If everyone comes towards the ball, the opponent can step forward without having to protect much space behind. Bayern’s supporting positions are an important part of what allows Kane to move.

In the next sequence, Kane comes much further towards Bayern’s own goal and an Arsenal defender follows him. Look at the distance between that defender and the rest of the defensive unit.

There is a reason to follow. Allowing Kane to receive without pressure could give an excellent passer time to turn and assess the runs ahead. But following also takes a defender away from the area those runners want to attack.

The opportunity depends on the response around Kane. Can a teammate recognise the opening and move into it while the player on the ball has the chance to pass? Because the space alone does not guarantee Bayern will use it.

A separate passage of play from the same footage shows how dangerous that relationship can become. Here, the highlighted defender is drawn towards halfway while Bayern retain a threat beyond him. The difference here is that there is a throw-in situation, so the centre back technically can’t step out too far, since a throw down the line could be dangerous for the defence.

As Kane becomes available centrally, the runner attacks the space behind. The timing matters because the run and the opportunity to play forward need to happen together. And of course the execution; weight of pass is perfect and he is aware of Davies’ speed, so can afford to put more on it.

Kane can then deliver the pass into the runner’s path. His range gives Bayern a way to exploit that opening before Arsenal can recover and the attack reaches the penalty area.

Those examples explain how Kane helps Bayern create attacks. To understand his goals though, we also have to follow what happens after he passes.

A deeper starting position can give him the opportunity to arrive as defenders turn towards the ball or deal with another runner. If the attack develops wide, he can reassess the space in the box and move into it as the delivery becomes possible. He still needs to cover the distance and time that movement well.

That is the next detail I would look for in the footage: the moment he changes from supporting the attack to attacking a scoring position. Does the defender see him moving? Is another forward already occupying that defender? Can Kane arrive with a clearer route to the ball?

His finishing also deserves its share of the explanation. Opta reports that 44 of his 61 Bayern goals last season came without penalties. His contribution to possession sits alongside an exceptional ability to finish the opportunities he gets. [2]

Now, Kane’s role works because of the qualities involved and how they support one another. His passing gives the runners a way to receive beyond the defence, their movement gives him forward options and the attack still needs players arriving where chances can be finished.

For your own team, start with the players you have. And this is paramount!

Don’t just assume that because the best player in the world drops deeper, you should tell all your players to do the same.

If your striker is comfortable receiving under pressure and finding teammates, consider who could threaten beyond them. If their main strength is attacking the last line, consider who can provide the passes and support that help them do it.

You can keep the same objective of creating chances while changing the responsibilities that help your players achieve it. When the roles suit their qualities and the players understand how their actions connect, you give those qualities a better chance to influence the game.

Which two players in your team have qualities that could work better together?

Hit reply and let me know.

If you would like my FREE Match Analysis template so you can start analysing like this on your own team: Click here

See you next time,

Lucas

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