"A slow Dyer-Stanasic defense will be a nightmare."

The Japanese defender Hiroki Ito sustained a metatarsal injury during the home match against St. Pauli in the 27th round of the 2023-2024 Bundesliga on March 29 (Korean time).

A day later, on the 30th, it was officially announced that "Ito was diagnosed again with a metatarsal fracture. A return this season is impossible." He had gone through surgery after sustaining an injury in the same area during last summer's preseason match, returned after about seven months, but collapsed once again.

German media 'TZ' also noted on March 30 that "Bayern's medical staff rushed the injured players back too soon, which led to problems. Ito started running training just two months after the first fracture and eventually underwent a second surgery."

The media pointed out that it is not just the case of Ito. 'TZ' reported, "Bayern's other defender Dayot Upamecano has been participating in games despite suffering from knee and hip pain. The injury to Alphonso Davies resulted from a collision with an opponent, but Upamecano has been under stress from overuse throughout the season," raising doubts about whether Bayern's medical staff properly addressed the players' injuries.

Min-jae Kim is no exception. He has been complaining of Achilles tendon pain since October of last year but has rarely received rest. Rather, he recorded the second-most playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich. Recently, he was unavailable due to an ankle injury but returned to the starting lineup after about two weeks.

TZ noted, "Bayern's medical staff leaves the decision on player participation to manager Kompany. It is rare for them to refuse the manager's judgment." This implies that the game schedule and the manager's judgment take precedence over the player's condition. Given the cases of Ito and Upamecano, there are concerns that Min-jae Kim may also fall into a serious injury slump if this continues.

Bayern's defense has effectively collapsed. Davies and Ito have been ruled out for the season, and Upamecano's return schedule remains unclear. The only remaining left-back is Raphaël Guerreiro. The burden of being responsible for the entire defense has concentrated on Min-jae Kim.

In particular, German media attention is focused on Min-jae Kim. Unlike other players, he has been managing a tough schedule despite his injuries. He has even been running until the end, despite suffering from Achilles tendonitis, to a degree that players who have rested amid the schedule might be in better condition.

TZ pointed out, "When Ito was injured, Min-jae Kim comforted his teammate. Ito is out for the season, but Min-jae Kim must continue to play until the end. Despite suffering from injuries for a long time, Min-jae Kim cannot rest until the season is over. Ultimately, it is an issue that Bayern must manage."

It added, "To win the league, manager Kompany must build a defense. Upamecano, Davies, and even Ito have suffered injuries. From Bayern's perspective, they need to stop world-class attackers to win the UEFA Champions League. Therefore, Min-jae Kim is absolutely essential."

In fact, unlike the league, a tough journey still awaits Bayern in the UCL. TZ analyzed, "If they meet Real Madrid, they need to stop Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius; if they face Inter Milan, they must contain Lautaro Martínez; and against FC Barcelona, they need to handle Robert Lewandowski. It would be impossible without Min-jae Kim."

It continued, "Min-jae Kim's speed is essential for Bayern. He is even implementing the team's defensive build-up. Despite being such an important player, he has been forced to play since suffering from Achilles tendonitis since October last year. He hasn’t even played for the Korean national team but is competing for Bayern."

TZ expressed concern by stating, "Even against relegation-threatened St. Pauli, Min-jae Kim played despite not being in his best condition. If Min-jae Kim does not appear, slow players like Dyer and Stanasic will have to play. If Min-jae Kim is unavailable in the UCL, it will undoubtedly be a disaster."

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