Achilles tendonitis and bronchitis. This is literally a typical appearance of a vicious corporation.
Bayern Munich reported on the 16th (Korean time) through the club's website the contents of an interview with Coach Kompany and Kane. The two attended a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-final second leg against Inter Milan, which will be held at 4 a.m. on the 17th at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy.
The story of Kim Min-jae was not left out. On the 13th, he made a painful mistake in the 'Der Klassiker' against Dortmund. In the 3rd minute of the second half, he allowed the opening goal by missing the movement of the opposing striker Maximilian Beier. Then, Coach Kompany called back Kim Min-jae and assigned center back duties to left-back Josip Stanišić.
After the match, criticism towards Kim Min-jae poured in. Director Max Eberl also noted, "It was a mistake. Kim Min-jae missed the opponent. Until then, he was having an extremely good game against Seru Girasi. However, he must be well aware of the goals conceded. Kim Min-jae, like all other players, is not in 100% condition at the end of the season. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be fielded."
'Sky Sports Germany' also pointed out that Kim Min-jae makes too many mistakes. The media reported, "Kim Min-jae has only shown a limited version of himself since joining Bayern from Napoli. He has appeared in 77 matches wearing the Bayern uniform, but has not provided the stability expected in his second season. This season, he has made 6 mistakes leading to goals."
Additionally, Sky Sports added, "With this, Kim Min-jae has topped the list of center backs in the top five leagues and UCL for the number of mistakes directly leading to goals (6). Saint-Étienne's Mickaël Nadé, Monaco's Mohammed Salis, and Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis are tied for second place with 4 mistakes each, while Dortmund's Emre Can is in fifth place with 3 mistakes."
There are even rumors that Kim Min-jae could leave Bayern. Sky Sports reported, "Bayern is open to offers! Kim Min-jae can leave," stating, "Kim Min-jae is no longer a player that Bayern cannot sell. If an offer that corresponds to his value comes in, Bayern is willing to engage in conversations."
There are also predictions that Kim Min-jae could be pushed to the bench. The media noted, "Kim Min-jae was underwhelming in the match against Dortmund. This is not the first time we've seen this version of him this season. Kompany quickly substituted him after witnessing his positioning mistakes, and Eberl publicly criticized him. Is Kim Min-jae at risk of sitting on the bench during the important match against Inter?"
However, Coach Kompany denied the rumors. When the story of Kim Min-jae came up again, he said, "I have already explained clearly. Conceding goals is not just a matter concerning a single player. We have experienced multiple setbacks due to players being sidelined with injuries, and sometimes the squad has been very small. But we always create opportunities, maintain a positive attitude, and have the energy to play well even in important matches."
Additionally, Coach Kompany emphasized, "I will never criticize a player individually. If I have to say something to a player, I will speak to him directly and ensure the team learns from him. We cannot afford the luxury of excluding players right now. I know that sometimes it is interesting to see such aspects in sports like football, but my team is my team. I trust both my team and all our players."
For Kim Min-jae, who may leave Bayern after two years, the only way is to prove himself with performance. He must execute a solid defense against Inter to save Bayern, which is in danger of being eliminated from the UCL. Bayern lost 1-2 in the first leg played at home last week. To advance to the semifinals, they need to win by at least a 2-goal margin, so conceding goals could lead to elimination.
The reason for Kim Min-jae's poor performance has also been revealed. It is because he has been suffering from Achilles tendonitis since last October and bronchitis, which has not fully healed since the international match in March. Kim Min-jae requested rest as he was not selected for the national team in March, but he is enduring overexertion due to other players collapsing from injuries.
Germany's 'TZ' stated, "Kim Min-jae has drawn attention due to his recent inconsistency in performance. He was substituted early in the recent match against Dortmund," adding, "The cause of this slump was bronchitis. Originally suffering from Achilles tendonitis, Kim Min-jae has been plagued by bronchitis since the match against St. Pauli."
TZ emphasized, "Naturally, Kim Min-jae was also suffering from bronchitis during the Dortmund match. He has been playing with painkillers for Achilles tendonitis since last October but has not been able to rest. The reason is simple. Other Bayern defenders are frequently injured, so Kim Min-jae has to be on the field. There are other alternatives, but frankly, he cannot be used against Inter."
"Also, it is difficult to easily utilize players like Stanišić, who can relatively play as a central defender, since the left full-back is also injured. If Stanišić is used instead of Kim Min-jae, Geheirou would have to play as the left full-back, which clearly presents challenges in solving the defensive issues."
[OSEN]