Kane on his game, Bellingham at his best

Summary of Kane on his game, Bellingham at his best

by The Athletic

1h 9m•September 1, 2026
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Overview of Kane on his game, Bellingham at his best

This episode of The Athletic’s European football roundup covers a wide-ranging weekend across Europe: a deep-dive interview with Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga’s opening stories, Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid’s fast start, plus early-season chaos in Serie A and Ligue 1. The recurring themes were squad-building, player development, and how quickly narratives can change at the start of a new season.

Harry Kane interview: how he thinks about his game

Seb Stafford-Bloor discussed his feature interview with Harry Kane, which focused on Kane’s goals, movement, and the craft behind his play.

Key insights from Kane

  • Kane sees himself as much more than a finisher; he emphasized:
    • his high work rate
    • his durability and availability
    • the amount he runs in games, especially under Vincent Kompany
  • He said he is still focused on improving and does not believe he is slowing down simply because he is in his 30s.
  • He talked through specific goals and assists in detail, showing how much tactical and spatial information he processes in real time.

Notable talking points

  • His clipped, floated pass to Luis Díaz against PSG was compared to an American quarterback-style throw.
  • Kane said recovery has become a bigger part of his routine as he has gotten older, including acupuncture after a serious hamstring injury in 2019.
  • The hosts also debated the Ballon d’Or race, with Kane’s case discussed alongside Rodri’s.

Bundesliga: Bayern roll, Elversberg’s fairy tale, Musiala concern

Elversberg’s remarkable rise

  • The most striking Bundesliga story was Elversberg, a club from a town of roughly 13,000 people, who have risen from the fourth tier to the Bundesliga in just a few years.
  • They stunned Bayer Leverkusen in their top-flight debut, going 3-0 up early before holding on for a famous opening win.
  • The hosts stressed that, unlike some “project clubs,” Elversberg’s rise has been more about smart investment and infrastructure than pure financial distortion.

Bayern Munich’s strong start

  • Bayern beat Stuttgart 5-1, with Harry Kane among the standouts.
  • The discussion highlighted:
    • Vincent Kompany’s flexible attacking structure
    • the arrival of players like Said El Mala/Sabari-type additions in support roles
    • Bayern’s effort to build around Kane rather than simply rely on him

Jamal Musiala update

  • There was concern around Jamal Musiala, who had fainted in consecutive preseason games.
  • Bayern said the issue was linked to a change in medication for a pre-existing condition, and they are taking a cautious approach.
  • The tone was reassuring: health first, with no immediate return date set.

Serie A: Roma, Como, Fiorentina, Juventus and Milan

Como’s impressive win at Napoli

  • Como beat Napoli 2-1 in a standout result.
  • Cesc Fàbregas’ side were praised for showing maturity:
    • they controlled the game for long spells
    • they adapted tactically when Napoli pushed back
    • and, importantly, they managed the closing stages properly
  • Fàbregas admitted he had previously said he would “never” go to a back five, but used it here to secure the result.

Fiorentina’s centenary overshadowed

  • Fiorentina’s 100th anniversary celebrations were described as grand but bittersweet.
  • Despite the pomp, the team have made a dreadful start:
    • heavy defeats
    • too many new signings
    • no chemistry yet
  • David de Gea was mentioned as being unsettled, though not solely responsible.
  • The bigger issue is that Fiorentina have spent heavily again without yet building a coherent team.

Juventus in transition

  • Juventus are still scrambling to improve their attack late in the window.
  • Luciano Spalletti publicly softened his criticism of Randal Kolo Muani after previously taking a swipe at him.
  • There was also discussion of possible striker movement and the club’s financial constraints under UEFA settlement rules.

Milan and transfer chatter

  • Omari Hutchinson is moving toward Milan, where he would add depth and creativity wide/right-sided in attack.
  • Rafael Leão has reportedly departed for Galatasaray, with the panel noting both his enormous talent and the sense that he never consistently fulfilled his potential at Milan.

Real Madrid and Jude Bellingham at his best

  • The episode’s other major headline was Jude Bellingham’s sensational goal for Real Madrid against Málaga.
  • His strike was compared to a classic George Best goal: starting deep, driving across defenders, and finishing from a tight angle.
  • The hosts noted that José Mourinho is giving Bellingham a freer, more advanced role:
    • less defensive responsibility
    • more freedom in the final third
    • more opportunity to attack the box
  • Madrid’s strong early form, plus Kylian Mbappé’s goal-scoring, has made them look like genuine title contenders.

Ligue 1: Monaco lead, PSG stumble, chaos in Europe

Monaco and Paris Brunner

  • Monaco beat Marseille 2-0 and went top.
  • One of the stories of their opening week was Paris Brunner:
    • a German youth international with a French-sounding name
    • signed from Borussia Dortmund
    • and now starting to fulfill the promise that once surrounded him
  • Monaco’s success was framed as part of a broader Ligue 1 trend: clubs forced to uncover undervalued talent because of financial pressure and the TV rights crisis.

PSG still winless in the league

  • PSG drew 2-2 at Lille after another late comeback.
  • They were helped by goals from Vitinha and Marquinhos after going 2-0 down.
  • Despite the underwhelming start, the panel said there was no real panic yet.
  • The goalkeeping situation remains a talking point:
    • Matvey Safonov is currently trusted
    • Lucas Chevalier has not regained the spot after earlier mistakes

A chaotic European playoff

  • The show also touched on a wild European playoff involving Matteo Guendouzi, which ended in a very heated aftermath and a tunnel confrontation.
  • The panel used it as an example of how emotional and volatile qualification rounds can become.

Main takeaways

  • Harry Kane is being framed as a highly intelligent, relentlessly durable striker, not just a scorer.
  • Bayern Munich look strong again, but the biggest Bundesliga story may be Elversberg’s unlikely rise.
  • Jude Bellingham is thriving in a more advanced Real Madrid role.
  • Como and Monaco are early examples of well-run clubs maximizing limited resources.
  • Fiorentina are a cautionary tale about buying too many players without building a team.
  • PSG are not yet convincing in Ligue 1, but the consensus is that it is too early to sound the alarm.