Kim Min-jae arrived half a beat early, while Tahr arrived half a tempo late. Is Bayern Munich's choice really right?

On the 23rd (Korea time), the German outlet "RAN" raised strong doubts about the restructuring direction of Munich's defense. In particular, regarding Jonathan Tah, who is mentioned as a replacement for Kim Min-jae, they said, "It's not an upgrade. Rather, it's a risk."

He has worn the uniform and played 43 matches for 3,593 minutes, participating 2,289 minutes in the league alone. This is the second most playing time in the team after Joshua Kimmich. In particular, Kim Min-jae has managed a tough schedule since October of last year while dealing with an Achilles tendon injury.

Even when Kim Min-jae needed rest, he could not rest properly due to his teammates' injuries and kept guarding Bayern's rear. He became what the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) expressed concern as an 'icon of overexertion.' Thanks to this, Bayern reclaimed the Meisterschale (Bundesliga championship trophy) that they lost to Bayer Leverkusen last season. Kim Min-jae also became the first Korean player to conquer two of the five major European leagues.

Kim Min-jae lifted the Serie A championship trophy at Napoli in the 2022-2023 season and then succeeded in conquering the Bundesliga. However, Bayern is considering bidding farewell to Kim Min-jae. Criticism has emerged locally that he made too many mistakes in the second half of the season. The Bayern board is said to want to send Kim Min-jae abroad if they receive a suitable offer and have already signed Jonathan Tah.

Kim Min-jae, who always shouted that he would prove himself by staying at Bayern, has now changed his mind. Volk noted, "Kim Min-jae is one of the candidates for release this summer. He himself would not hesitate to leave the team if he receives an attractive offer. He has keenly felt the criticism of his performance in Munich."

Rumors about Bayern's media play regarding Kim Min-jae's transfer continue. Nevertheless, it is being reported locally that Bayern's overexertion from last season is still haunting him. In fact, Bayern is known to be trying hard to take Kim Min-jae to the Club World Cup. However, due to the impressive performances he has shown, he is being linked with several big clubs like PSG and Liverpool.

Kim Min-jae was unable to play at all due to injuries towards the end of the season. His recovery has been delayed to the extent that he missed the June international matches. Local media have speculated that his participation in the Club World Cup is virtually impossible. However, Bayern's decision to call up Kim Min-jae was a huge shock. He actually cannot participate in the group stage.

Max Eberl, Bayern's Director General, even mentioned Kim Min-jae at a press conference held ahead of the Club World Cup. While his future is uncertain, the key point regarding Kim Min-jae’s mention was about his 'injury.' He denied rumors that Kim Min-jae's injury was aggravated due to Bayern's overexertion.

Eberl, the Director General of Bayern, opened by saying, "Kim Min-jae has been unable to train normally due to his Achilles tendon. However, I have heard many people say that we have put Kim Min-jae's health at risk," before asserting, "We have never aggravated Kim Min-jae’s injury. Rather, we have always managed him well while keeping everything under control."

Denying the overexertion, Eberl, the Director General of Bayern, emphasized, "Kim Min-jae merely said that he wants to rest and recover his health. He plans to rejoin the team as soon as he resumes training in a few days. And when he returns, the competition for the starting position will begin. Since there are many defenders, Kim Min-jae also needs to compete."

The key reason is the risk of selling Kim Min-jae. Although they signed Tahr, there are parts that relatively do not fit the tactics of manager Vincent Kompany. "RAN" pointed this out. It noted that while Tah performed well in a three-back system in Leverkusen, he may struggle in Kompany's high-line four-back system.

The key was speed. On the surface, both Tahr and Kim Min-jae reached a maximum speed of 33 km/h, but what matters in practice is the instant acceleration. RAN pointed out, "Kim Min-jae excels in his ability to reach quickly in a short time. In contrast, Tahr has a style that takes time to accelerate."

This is a critical difference for teams that use a high line. Moreover, Kompany is known for employing the most extreme high line among all teams in European football. Kim Min-jae was responsible for constant pressure in both offense and defense and for the transition between them. There is a significant gap compared to the three-back system used in Leverkusen.

Additionally, the results of ground duels, which indicate defensive ability, were the same. Last season, Kim Min-jae had a 51% success rate and doubled the number of duels compared to Tahr. In terms of essential defensive abilities like direction change and agility, Kim Min-jae was superior. This means that simply being a 'physically strong center-back' cannot maintain Munich's defense.

"RAN" warned, "Kim Min-jae is a player who can cover even in pressure situations, which perfectly fits the high-line tactics. Tahr, who played as a three-back in Leverkusen, may struggle with tactical transitions." It is interpreted that Kim Min-jae’s tactical suitability under Kompany’s system was superior to any other player.

Of course, Kim Min-jae also made mistakes during last season due to the effects of injuries. However, local evaluations agree that "considering the past six months he has played despite pain, a healthy Kim Min-jae is still the best defender in the team." If signing Tahr does not mean 'reinforcement' but rather 'replacement,' Bayern's choice could become a self-inflicted wound.

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