Vincent Kompany (38), the Bayern Munich manager, has opened the possibility of using Korea's defender Kim Min-jae (29).
Bayern Munich (Germany), led by Kompany, will face Benfica (Portugal) in the third match of Group C at the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for 4 a.m. on the 25th (Korea time) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
On the 24th, the day before the match against Benfica, Kompany addressed player management for the match during an official press conference. He noted the importance of the health of all players while also welcoming the inclusion of new players.
Kompany commented on the possibility of using Thomas Müller, who will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, saying, "I won’t say anything about tomorrow’s lineup."
He added, "Our team is competitive, with every player having their role. Every role is important to us. It doesn’t matter who plays how many minutes. The most important thing is that the team functions well. If that happens, we are a strong team, and we've been that way so far."
In particular, he emphasized, "What we learned from last season is that we were a better, more dominant team in almost every match. Of course, we want titles. To achieve that, every player must be healthy." He continued, "If I had just one wish for the future, it would be that every player is healthy in crucial moments. Small moments often determine wins and losses in big competitions."
Just before the final group stage match, news came about Kim Min-jae's return to training. Kim Min-jae had been dealing with an Achilles injury throughout last season. He needed sufficient treatment and rest, but there was no opportunity due to the injuries of other center-backs.
In the end, Kim Min-jae could not participate in the last three matches of the 2024-2025 season. Enduring pain, he was unable to continue playing. He needed a break after the season, but he found himself having to accompany the team to the Club World Cup.
Kompany stated regarding the Club World Cup, "It was a very good experience. I am a football fan. There were always many people in the stadium. The important thing is that European and South American teams can compete against each other, and that teams from Africa and Asia also play their roles." He analyzed, "This is very positive for the development of football. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to see these teams compete against each other."
Kompany explained, "This tournament has two aspects. On one hand, it can unite the team, and on the other hand, it helps new players like Jonathan Tah and Tom Bishoff adapt to the system." Tah is a competitor for Kim Min-jae's position. Local media report that Bayern's management believes Tah will take the starting spot from Kim Min-jae next season.
He added, "On the other hand, there is clearly a drawback of insufficient time to prepare for the new season. It is a completely different experience compared to national team tournaments. We know each other well, and there are already automated movements, so we are now focusing on refining the details." He noted that in national teams, the focus is on the basics. "Thus, this tournament is a completely new and interesting experience."
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