Kim Min-jae (28, Munich) has fallen behind in the race to become a starting member. However, it is too early to make a judgment.
Bayern Munich had a showdown with SS Lazio in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League's round of 16 teams for the 2023-2024 season at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, at 5 a.m. on Saturday, and won 3-0. After paying off 0-1 defeat in the first round, Munich advanced to the quarterfinals with a combined score of 3-1.
There was no name of Kim Min-jae on Munich's starting list on the day. Thomas Tuchel brought up a combination of Eric Dier and Matthijs the Licht central defender. As a result, Munich won the game 3-0 without allowing any points. Kim Min-jae did not get on the ground until the end.
This is the first time since joining the club. Until mid-season, Kim had been suffering from a controversy because he played so much. In Munich's first 15 games, Kim couldn't rest even for a second and played full time. Meanwhile, The Licht and Upamecano took turns sluggish or injured. Kim had to carry all the burden by himself.
The Asian Cup was a variable. Kim Min-jae has been away in Munich for more than a month since early January. South Korea lost 0-2 to Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Cup. Kim Min-jae returned to Munich earlier than expected, but Eric Dier was already filling the spot.
When there was a controversy, Kim Min-jae said, "Other players can perform well when I'm away. If the coach continues to use the combination of the players, there may be no place for me." This remark, which was unfounded at the time, has become a reality. Right now, the Dyer-The Licht duo is drawing more attention than the Kim Min-jae and Upamecano combination. It is a separate matter how dedicated Kim Min-jae has been.
Dyer, who was a "Gyereuk" when he was a Tottenham player, was revived as a swan in Munich. At Tottenham, he was treated as a surplus power as he was pushed out of the main competition. Rather than playing on the field, he often stayed on the bench. Dyer, who was reduced to a candidate after manager Enzi Postecoglou's appointment, was put on the market early, but no team took him.
Munich, which was on alert due to Kim Min-jae's overwork and center back injuries, was deceived and took Dyer. As Dyer wakes up, he is showing better-than-expected performance. Coach Tuchel recently began to push Dyer. Dayo Upamecano lost trust as he was sent off twice. Kim Min-jae, who was a built-in main player, also lost his position as he left for the Asian Cup.
Dyer posted a 96 percent pass success rate against Lazio, three clearings and two interceptions. After the game ended, the soccer news outlet Pot Mob gave Dyer an easy rating of 7.2 points.
Dyer, who was satisfied with his performance, said, "The club, the city, and the fans all welcomed me greatly, so it was easy for me to adapt. I really enjoy playing soccer. I felt a lot of pressure in this game, but I overcame it well. I'm looking forward to the next round of the Champions League."
Dyer's stock price is high, but it cannot be asserted that Kim Min-jae fell behind in the starting lineup right away. "It was a difficult decision," Tuchel said about the exclusion of Kim Min-jae after the match against Lazio. Dyer, who is in good condition right now, got the opportunity, but he can't say that he is better than Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae also has many opportunities. You just have to prove it.
However, it is regrettable that the Munich team and the German media are putting particularly strict standards on Kim. DeerSlectic said, "Kim Min-jae showed solid performance among Munich's underachievers, but he failed to give us solid trust. Kim just watched Lucas Holo score the equalizer in the match against Freiburg. The mistake symbolizes Kim's helplessness."
Kim Min-jae has too high expectations as the "world's best center back." On top of that, Germans tend not to recognize the performance of Asian Kim Min-jae. In many ways, Kim Min-jae is starting from the ground up again in a disadvantageous environment. 안전놀이터
