Could it literally be a placeholder situation?
Bayern Munich will face Auckland City (New Zealand) on the 16th (Korea time) in the first match of Group C of the 2025 Club World Cup at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
On the 21st, they will play against Boca Juniors (Argentina) in the second match, and on the 25th, they will compete against Benfica (Portugal) in the final third match, aiming for tournament advancement.
Attention is focused on Jonathan Tah. Tah, a member of Bayer Leverkusen's undefeated championship squad, was acquired to replace Kim Min-jae. Currently, Kim Min-jae is unable to participate due to an unresolved Achilles injury. There is a high possibility that Tah will make his debut against Auckland City.
Germany's 'Kicker' also reported the day before that 'Kim Min-jae is working on rehabilitation with his Bayern Munich teammates, but it appears he may not return until July.' This news effectively communicates that participation in the Club World Cup is not possible, increasing criticism of Bayern's decision to summon him.
It has been revealed that Kim Min-jae has been managing an Achilles injury since last October during a match against Eintracht Frankfurt. Nevertheless, he participated in a total of 43 matches for the team. His recovery during the winter break has also been slow. Still, under head coach Vincent Kompany, Kim Min-jae reestablished himself as a starter.
However, after the A-match in March, with the consecutive season-ending injuries to Dayot Upamecano and Hiroki Ito, Kim Min-jae essentially held up the defense on his own. He participated in a total of 3,593 minutes across all competitions, the highest playing time recorded among Bayern defenders.
Key players Upamecano (1,761 minutes) and Alphonso Davies (1,561 minutes) had already been ruled out for the season. Kim Min-jae held his position until Bayern confirmed their Bundesliga victory, at which point he was finally granted a rest.
Director General Max Eberl, who brought Kim Min-jae along despite his injury for the Club World Cup, noted, 'Kim Min-jae has been struggling significantly with his Achilles and has been suffering from this issue for a long time. Although it has spread outside that he pushed his health too far, we did not reach that level.' He added, 'I believe we have controlled the situation well, and now Kim Min-jae is saying, "I want to fully recover." He is expected to rejoin training with the team in a few days,' asserting that Bayern's organization bears no responsibility for Kim Min-jae's injury.
However, unlike Director General Eberl's statement, it seems difficult to see Kim Min-jae in action. Kicker reported, 'Center-back Kim Min-jae, who has been suffering from a long-term Achilles injury, is preparing for his return. However, whether he will participate in the Club World Cup remains uncertain,' adding, 'Unlike Eberl's comments, Kim Min-jae is still struggling with his Achilles issue.'
Kicker stated, 'According to our report, the chances of Kim Min-jae returning to the game quickly are low. Based on our findings, it is projected that he may return to the game as early as next month in July. Participation in the Club World Cup is currently very uncertain. His physical condition is slowly improving, but for the time being, he plans to focus on rehabilitation with the team.'
As expected the day before the match, new acquisition Jonathan Tah appeared. Tah said, 'I’m from Hamburg. I’ve been watching Coach Kompany. He’s an amazing player and an excellent leader. From day one, he has given me a lot of teachings and has helped improve my skills. The first impression is very good,' adding, 'From my time at Leverkusen, matches against Bayern have been the toughest.'
Ultimately, as expected, Kim Min-jae was left out. In the lineup officially released by Munich on this day, Tah emerged as the main model, showing Bayern's expectations for him. In the absence of Kim Min-jae due to injury, he forms a back four with Stanisic, Boey, and Guerreiro. Attention is drawn to how he will perform in his debut match for Munich.
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