South Korea national team defender Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern) made a critical mistake in Germany's Bundesliga's greatest rivalry, 'Der Klassiker,' and faced harsh criticism from local media. However, manager Vincent Kompany (39) noted Kim's difficult situation and defended him after the match.

Bayern recorded a 2-2 draw in the home match against Borussia Dortmund in the 29th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on the 13th (Korean time).

As a result, Bayern maintained the top position with 69 points, narrowing the gap to second-place Bayer 04 Leverkusen (63 points) to 6 points.

Kim Min-jae started as a center back alongside Eric Dier. In the early part of the first half, he made solid defensive plays to fend off Dortmund's attacks, showing a good start by blocking several crises. In the 39th minute, he made a mistake by losing possession of the ball but immediately recovered with a tackle to maintain focus.

Early in the second half, Kim Min-jae's defense faltered. In the 3rd minute of the second half, he allowed a cross from Julian Ryerson to attacking player Maximilian Wöber, who scored the opening goal with a perfect header. Kim was criticized for missing Wöber despite being in a better position.

Ultimately, Kim Min-jae was substituted by Raphael Guerreiro in the 9th minute of the second half and left the bench. Following that, Bayern scored two goals and turned the tide, but conceded an equalizer in the 30th minute of the second half, finishing the match in a 2-2 draw.

After the game, local German media evaluations were harsh. 'TZ' assigned a score of 5 to Kim Min-jae, saying, "He played while suffering from cold and Achilles tendon pain, but did not show an impressive performance." 'Sport1' reported, "His defensive actions were incomprehensible, and he lost his sense of direction," while 'Rand' stated, "He changed the flow of the game with an early mistake in the second half."

Lothar Matthäus, the legendary former Germany national team player and commentator, also strongly criticized him, stating, "He moved away from the ball instead of toward it. A defense like that is unacceptable for a team aiming for victory."

However, manager Vincent Kompany did not directly address the criticism directed at Kim Min-jae. In a post-match interview, he emphasized, "I don't want to talk about (Kim Min-jae's) conceding moments now. Our team is already exhausted. Every player is needed, and it's never easy to always be on the field."

Indeed, Kim Min-jae's recent condition has not been good. He has not fully recovered from Achilles tendon pain that has persisted since October of last year, coupled with pharyngitis and back pain, making it difficult for him to maintain his performance. Bayern had no choice but to rush Kim Min-jae back early amid a series of injuries to defenders.

The professional world is harsh, but attention is focused on whether Kim Min-jae can once again live up to the nickname 'monster defender.' With Bayern yet to secure the championship and several tournament schedules remaining, including the UEFA Champions League, Kim Min-jae's recovery and resurgence are critical.

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