by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Harry Kane doesn't get easily carried away; his responses after games are consistently reserved.
After Bayern Munich's 2-1 win in the German Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund, the 32-year-old seemed to abandon his principles altogether.
"This might have been one of my best games ever," the Three Lions captain said in an unusually powerful tone.
Being named the "Man of the Match," the former Tottenham striker enjoyed the praise pouring down on him after scoring his 12th league goal of the 2025/26 season, along with three assists.
Having reached 100 scoring points (74 goals/26 assists) in his first 70 league games at record speed, he has already set a breathtaking mark.
A tackle rate of 77 percent, 11.6 kilometers covered, and 48 passes indicate that goals and assists are not all the Englishman has to offer.
"I have never played that deeply before," he said with a shy smile spreading across his face. Kane was everything: a defender, a midfield conductor, and a striker.
While Bayern coach Vincent Kompany called the performance "crazy," the Bavarians' chairman, Jan-Christian Dreesen, with a twinkle in his eye, made a bold statement.
"If we had known he was improving each season, we might have paid more for him," the official said after Kane joined for a reported 100 million euros in 2023.
Seventy ball contacts, but only three in BVB's box, illustrate the striker's presence across the field.
Bayern officials highlighted his 60-meter pass in the 78th minute, fired from deep in Bayern's half, reaching Luiz Dias and leading to the Bavarians' second goal, scored by Michael Olise following Kane's successful header.
Board member for sport Max Eberl called Kane a "lionhearted leader," while Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck said, "he currently is Europe's most complete and best striker."
Despite his bold statement, Kane stays cautious. His first national league title and the German Supercup (both in 2025) are not the end.
The UEFA Champions League remains Kane's ultimate target.
For now, the striker and Bayern are riding the wave, "as he is important not only as a striker," as keeper Manuel Neuer said.
While Bayern is eyeing a contract extension beyond 2027, Kane is demanding patience.
Twelve league goals in seven games and 22 goals in 14 across all competitions might indicate an unprecedented high, but as Kane notes, "we are still in the early stages of the season."
From his perspective, the challenge is maintaining the flow and successfully getting through the crunch time in the Champions League in the spring of 2026. ■