Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich), who played despite injury, became a target of criticism due to a mistake.
Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Inter Milan in the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on the 17th (Korean time) at Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, Italy.
Bayern Munich, which had lost 1-2 in the first leg, was eliminated in the quarterfinals with a total score of 3-4. Bayern Munich's quest for a title has been thwarted for five years since winning the 2019-20 season.
Kim Min-jae, suffering from a sore throat and Achilles tendon pain, could not take a break due to team circumstances and was in the starting lineup. Partnered with Eric Dier, Kim Min-jae made two critical mistakes. He played for 65 minutes before being substituted.
The first mistake came in the first half. Kim Min-jae received a warning attempting a back tackle on Marcus Thuram in the 28th minute of the first half, which gave the opponent a threatening free kick opportunity.
A decisive mistake occurred in the second half. In the 16th minute of the second half, Kim Min-jae failed in defense while trying to block a header goal from Benjamin Pavard. That goal allowed Inter Milan to lead 2-1. In the end, Kim Min-jae was substituted and left the field early. These two scenes remain the most critical moments for Kim Min-jae.
German media also pointed to Kim Min-jae as the reason for Bayern Munich's elimination. Bild harshly criticized, saying, "His performance was the lowest," giving him the lowest score of 6 points. Spox noted, "The moment he allowed Pavard's goal was something that should not have happened to Kim Min-jae."
Sharp questions also arose at the official press conference. An Italian journalist asked coach Vincent Kompany, "Kim Min-jae's play is no longer impressive."
Kompany responded, saying, "Anyone can express their opinion, but I disagree. Kim Min-jae is helping us win this season. We need to focus on the present moment. Kim Min-jae has won in Italy and now needs to win in Germany. We must unite until the end of the season," supporting Kim Min-jae.
Kompany added, "I don't turn my back on anyone. Such debates are meaningless. If there are disputes within the club, we speak up. That is the way forward."
While it is possible to point out Kim Min-jae's mistakes internally at Bayern Munich, it implies that mistakes are not publicly criticized.
"Bavarian Football Works" noted, "It is true that Kim Min-jae made critical mistakes this season. However, he has been playing through injuries for the past few months. Will Bayern Munich tolerate this problem or bring in a new starting center-back this summer?" expressing doubts about Kim Min-jae's ability.
[OSEN]