Kim Min-jae (29, Munich), who is suffering from 'rumors of release,' must also show his fighting spirit despite injuries.
Florian Plettenberg, a reporter from Germany's 'Sky Sports,' reported on the 15th, saying, 'Kim Min-jae is not considered an untouchable player at Bayern. The club has no intention of releasing him, but they would consider sending him if an offer comes from another team.'
Munich plans to offload Kim Min-jae this summer and bring in a new center-back. However, it is still only a concept for now, as Kim Min-jae's form has not been up to par.
On the 13th, Kim Min-jae made a significant mistake in the match against Borussia Dortmund. Partnering with Eric Dier as the center-back duo, Kim Min-jae contributed to Munich's first goal against them in the 3rd minute of the second half, displaying below-expectation performance. Ultimately, Kim Min-jae played only 54 minutes before being substituted by Raphael Guerreiro.
Despite this, Munich has no choice but to depend on Kim Min-jae. If Kim Min-jae does not play immediately, Munich's defense will completely collapse, as most of the defensive players, including Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito, are currently sidelined due to injuries.
Kim Min-jae is an essential player for Munich ahead of important matches.
Bayern Munich will face Inter Milan at 4 a.m. (Korea time) on the 17th in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, which will be held at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy. Munich is in a disadvantaged situation after losing 1-2 in the first leg at home on the 9th. To reach the semifinals, Munich needs a victory by at least two goals.
Ahead of the match, Munich is in a state of emergency due to Kim Min-jae's injury. 'Bild' reported on the 14th, 'Kim Min-jae did not finish training on Monday and went home. The defense-stricken Munich is worried about another star defender's injury.'
Kim Min-jae has been suffering from an Achilles injury since last October. He was unable to participate in the national team call-up last March due to the same injury. Recently, he has also been dealing with back pain and a cold. Despite this, Kim Min-jae continued to play without taking a break.
Ultimately, Munich plans to release Kim Min-jae but has no choice but to keep him on the field. 'Bild' noted, 'Currently, the only center-back without injuries at Munich is Eric Dier. Josip Stanisic can also play as a center-back but has been performing well as a left-back in recent matches. If Kim Min-jae is absent, Munich will be in a very difficult situation.'
In the midst of misfortune, there is a silver lining. Kim Min-jae attended and completed the final training held by Munich on the 15th. 'Bild' reported on the 15th, 'In the last training session on Tuesday afternoon, Kim Min-jae regained normal condition. Coach Kompany believes that it is crucial to rely on Kim Min-jae in defense from start to finish.'
'Bild' added, 'Kim Min-jae has been a fixed center-back alongside Eric Dier in recent matches. If Kim Min-jae is absent, Coach Kompany will need to fill the weakened defense with other players. Ultimately, Kim Min-jae has no choice but to grit his teeth and play again.'
Kim Min-jae must endure and play even if he feels unwell. If he makes just one mistake while in poor condition, he will immediately face rumors of release. When performing well, there is often no rest to the point of sparking 'exploitation controversies.' Playing at a big club like Munich is not easy for Kim Min-jae.
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