"A literal symbol of football players' overexploitation."
Bayern Munich reported the content of an interview with Coach Kompany and Kane through the club's website on the 16th (Korean time). The two attended a press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinal second leg against Inter Milan, which will be held at 4 a.m. on the 17th at the Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy.
The discussion about Kim Min-jae was not missed. He made a painful mistake in the 'Der Klassiker' against Dortmund on the 13th. In the 3rd minute of the second half, he allowed the opening goal by missing the movement of the opposing striker Maximilian Beier. Coach Kompany then called Kim Min-jae, assigning center-back duties to left-back Josip Stanišić.
After the match, criticism aimed at Kim Min-jae poured in. Director Max Eberl noted, "It was a mistake. Kim Min-jae lost track of his opponent. Until then, he was having a very good game against Seru Girači. However, he must be aware of his mistake. Like all players at the end of the season, Kim Min-jae is not at 100% condition. But that does not mean he cannot be fielded."
'Sky Sports Germany' also pointed out that Kim Min-jae makes too many mistakes. The outlet stated, "Kim Min-jae has only shown a limited version of himself since joining Bayern from Napoli. He has played 77 matches in a Bayern uniform, but he has not provided the stability expected in his second season. He has made 6 mistakes leading to goals this season."
Additionally, Sky Sports added, "As a result, Kim Min-jae ranks first among center-backs in the top five leagues and UCL for mistakes leading directly to goals (6 times). Saint-Étienne's Mikael Nade, Monaco's Mohammed Salisu, and Southampton's Taylor Howard-Bellis are tied for second place with 4 mistakes each, while Dortmund's Emre Can ranks fifth with 3 mistakes."
There are even reports that Kim Min-jae could leave Bayern. Sky Sports reported, "Bayern is open to offers! Kim Min-jae can leave," adding, "Kim Min-jae is no longer a player that Bayern cannot sell. If an offer that reflects his value comes, Bayern would be willing to enter conversations."
There are also predictions that Kim Min-jae could be pushed to the bench. The media said, "Kim Min-jae was sluggish against Dortmund. This is not the first time we have seen this. Kompany immediately substituted him after noticing his positional mistakes, and Eberl publicly criticized him. Is Kim Min-jae at risk of sitting on the bench in a crucial match against Inter?"
With the possibility of leaving Bayern after two years, Kim Min-jae has no choice but to prove himself through performance. He must display solid defense against Inter, helping Bayern, who are at risk of being eliminated from the UCL. Bayern lost the first leg at home last week, 1-2. To advance to the semifinals, they need to win by at least a two-goal margin, meaning conceding goals could lead to elimination.
The cause of Kim Min-jae's poor performance has been revealed. It is due to the Achilles tendonitis that has persisted since last October and a bronchitis issue that he has been suffering from since the March A-match. Kim Min-jae requested a rest at the March A-match but has been overexerted due to injuries to other players.
Germany's 'TZ' reported, "Kim Min-jae has attracted attention for his inconsistent performance in recent matches. He was substituted early in the recent match against Dortmund." The report stated, "The cause of his poor performance has been bronchitis. Kim Min-jae, originally suffering from Achilles tendonitis, has been battling bronchitis since the match against St. Pauli."
TZ emphasized, "Of course, Kim Min-jae was suffering from bronchitis during the match against Dortmund. Since October, he has been competing with painkillers for his Achilles tendonitis but has not been able to rest. The reason is simple: due to injuries to other defenders at Bayern, Kim Min-jae must play. There are other options, but to be honest, he can't be used against Inter."
Furthermore, the report added, "Since the left-footed fullback is also injured, it is not easy to field Stanišić, who can somewhat play as a center-back. If Stanišić is used instead of Kim Min-jae, Gehairo would have to come in as the left fullback, which obviously wouldn't resolve the issues in the defense."
Reactions from insiders who are aware of this situation were different. Coach Kompany stated, "I have already made it clear. Goals conceded are not solely a matter related to one player. We have gone through many frustrations because of injuries to players, and at times, the squad has been very small. But we always have the energy to create opportunities, maintain a positive attitude, and play well in important games."
Coach Kompany also emphasized, "I will never criticize individual players. If there is something to say to a player, I will speak to him directly so that the team members can learn from him. We do not have the luxury to exclude players right now. I know that sometimes it can be amusing to view such aspects in sports, but my team is my team. I believe in the team and all of our players."
Harry Kane, who attended the press conference with Kompany, said, "Conceding and scoring is a team responsibility," adding, "Kim Min-jae knows he should have done better. However, over the course of the season, he has been one of the top players," and defended, "Even now, Kim Min-jae is playing with an imperfect physical condition. He always dedicates himself to the team. Having played in Serie A, I believe he will show a good performance in the match against Inter."
Even Lothar Matthäus criticized Kim Min-jae's lack of concentration but acknowledged that his situation is not easy. In an analysis program held before the second leg against Inter in the UCL, Matthäus pointed out, "Given that Upamecano and Davies are out, it is impossible to make significant changes in the defense. No matter how many mistakes Kim Min-jae makes, he is an irreplaceable player."
Matthäus stated, "Even if Kim Min-jae makes mistakes, it would actually be worse to take him out and field another player. Of course, Kim Min-jae is a player who often makes mistakes. However, it would be worse to replace him with another player just because he makes mistakes."
Although Matthäus has criticized Kim Min-jae's errors in the past, he ultimately acknowledged that it is an unavoidable situation. He stated, "If it were me, I would never replace Kim Min-jae and reorganize the entire central defense. I would line up the defense with Stanišić, Kim Min-jae, Eric Dier, and Konrad Laimer."
The Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPRO) pointed out that Kim Min-jae is suffering from the worst overexploitation this season. They even titled a report "Kim Min-jae in the growing storm of overexploitation," stating, "From the beginning of the season, Kim Min-jae has been overworked and is struggling with Achilles tendonitis related to injuries."
The media reported, "This season, Kim Min-jae has played nearly 55 matches, switching between his club and national team. According to FIFPRO's prediction system, he is expected to play around 70 matches this season. In particular, during the winter, he will play 20 matches, averaging just 3.7 days between matches."
In reality, the media continued, due to national team convocations, he has traveled long distances 20 times, covering a distance close to two times around the Earth at 74,000 km. Furthermore, participating as a representative of Korea in the upcoming North and Central America World Cup qualifiers and immediately followed by playing in the Club World Cup for Bayern, he stressed the lack of rest time.
FIFPRO expressed strong concern, stating, "Kim Min-jae is indeed a case that clearly illustrates how players are exposed to overexploitation. If no solid safety measures are put in place for players, there will surely be even more severe overexploitation and extreme burdens, leading to a spiraling effect." /mcadoo@osen.co.
[OSEN]