Explained: Why 44-goal Harry Kane was subbed by Bayern Munich moments before dramatic Champions League semi-final collapse started against Real Madrid

The German giants appeared to be on course for a final date with domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1, with Canada international Alphonso Davies firing them in front at Santiago Bernabeu with a spectacular strike.

In the 85th minute, Tuchel made the surprising decision to replace prolific England striker Kane with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, despite there still being the possibility of extra-time and penalties. Three minutes later, Real substitute Joselu was gifted an equaliser by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – before going on to snatch a 91st-minute winner that was awarded following a VAR offside review.

Quizzed afterwards on why Kane was taken off in a game with so much riding on it, Tuchel said: “He couldn't keep going. He played with back pain and he couldn't keep going, his back froze up. We started with a front four and all four had to go out with injury or cramp. The front four all said they had to go. It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch. Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets. But on the other, there were too many injuries, a few too many substitutions, too many cramps.”

Former Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves told TNT Sports of the decision to replace a proven goalscorer: “I'll tell you what was unexpected, Harry Kane going off the pitch. That's one of the biggest subs I've ever seen in a game of football of that magnitude. To take off a guy that's scored 44 goals, who is the most durable player pretty much anywhere and you bring on another striker in Choupo-Moting. Maybe he wanted height for corners, I don't know. You cannot take him off. There's five minutes left in the game, there's 10 minutes of extra-time, 15 minutes.”

Kane is now destined to end his debut campaign with Bayern empty-handed, having already seen domestic honours fall out of reach. Questions have been asked of his future, along with that of Tuchel who is set to leave, with some big decisions needing to be made at the Allianz Arena this summer.