'Monster' Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) might find himself back on the bench. He has once again committed a critical mistake and stands at the center of criticism.
On the 13th (Korean time), Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in 'Der Klassiker' held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, in the 29th round of the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season.
For Bayern, it was a golden opportunity to widen the gap since Bayer Leverkusen, in 2nd place in the same round, drew with Union Berlin. However, Bayern could only add 1 point at home and failed to push forward in the title race. With 69 points, Bayern continues to engage in a fierce battle with Bayer Leverkusen (63 points), with 5 games remaining.
On that day, Kim Min-jae started as usual and partnered with Eric Dier. He made several solid defensive plays to block crises, showing commendable performance. However, in the 39th minute of the first half, he lost the ball to Julian Ryerson and created a dangerous situation, which he managed to recover with a tackle.
Then came the accident. In the 3rd minute of the second half, Kim Min-jae lost track of the movements of opposing striker Maximilian Beier and conceded the opening goal. He was substituted 6 minutes later for Raphael Guerreiro. It was a moment that overlapped with the memory of being pushed to the bench after being substituted during a match last season under coach Thomas Tuchel.
Post-match reactions from local German media were harsh. In particular, 'Sky Sports' noted, "The collapse of Kim Min-jae and its consequences: Will Kompany make the same choice as Tuchel?" suggesting that Kim Min-jae could lose his starting position again, just like last season.
The media reported, "Kim Min-jae struggled in the matchup against Dortmund. This was not a new sight this season. Kompany immediately substituted him after observing his positional errors, and Max Eberl, the director, publicly criticized Kim Min-jae after the match. Could Kim Min-jae be on the bench for the crucial UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan?"
Indeed, Coach Kompany substituted Kim Min-jae during the match against Dortmund, assigning left-back Josip Stanisic to the center-back position. It appears that he judged Stanisic, who is not a specialized center-back, to be better. If this continues, there is a strong possibility of making a similar decision in the upcoming match against Inter. Coach Tuchel also sat Kim Min-jae on the bench in the second leg after he made a significant mistake in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid last season.
Sky Sports pointed out, "Kim Min-jae was the best defender in Serie A and joined Munich for a transfer fee of 50 million euros (approximately 81.2 billion won). In Italy, he was referred to as 'The Monster' due to his strong tackles, quick speed, and excellent positioning. However, Bayern fans have seen little of that form. Since moving to Bayern, Kim Min-jae has significantly lagged behind in both ability and reputation."
Kim Min-jae also made numerous mistakes last season. Considering it was his first season in the Bundesliga, it should be regarded as a failure. Ultimately, in the second half of the season, Coach Tuchel restructured the central defense, opting for Dier and Matthijs de Ligt instead of Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano.
Sky Sports reported, "Kim Min-jae had a disappointing debut season but was forgiven. He needs to acclimate to the new level of football and understand the club and team better beyond German culture." However, "Kim Min-jae did not provide the expected stability even in his second season. After De Ligt's departure, Upamecano became the defensive leader and maintained a solid defense until his injury," it emphasized.
Kim Min-jae, who used to perform well, is now lowering his head due to critical mistakes. According to the football statistics outlet Opta, he has committed 6 errors leading to goals in this season's league and UEFA Champions League. This is the fifth-highest number.
Eberl, the director, also spoke publicly after the match against Dortmund. He stated, "It was a mistake. Kim Min-jae lost track of the opponent. Until that point, he had been playing a very, very good game against Serhu Kirashi. But he must be well aware of the conceding goal."
Of course, Kim Min-jae's physical condition also needs to be considered. He has had problems with his Achilles since last October, but has been overworked due to injuries among teammates. Nevertheless, Eberl maintained, "Kim Min-jae, like all other players, is not at 100% condition as the season comes to an end. But that does not mean we cannot put him on the field."
Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus also delivered a harsh evaluation of Kim Min-jae. He stated through Sky Sports, "Kim Min-jae was moving away from the ball rather than towards it. It seemed as if he lost his sense of direction. Overall, I could not understand Kim Min-jae's defending."
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