The “Monster” Kim Min-jae is captivating the new Bayern Munich coach, Bang Sang Kompany. “Kim Min-jae looks like a new player. He left a deep impression at the training site as he joined the pre-season with his short hair,” said German media outlet TZ on Sunday (Korea time). “As a player, world-class defender and new Bayern head coach Kompany even vociferously supported Kim (during training). Coaches who closely monitor the training also give positive assessments to him.” Finally, the “Hunger Defensive Monster” is back. Kim is ready to fight for the starting lineup. He is in much better and healthier condition compared to the summer of a year ago.”
Kim Min-jae is starting to be re-evaluated this summer. The coach also wants a general manager. His position in the team is remarkably increasing. German Sport said, “Bayer Munich has a clear stance on Kim Min-jae and Matthijs the Licht. Bayern’s team reorganization is in its early stages, but the central defense is expected to change. Bayern and Vanshan Kompany’s plans for center backs are getting clearer and clearer,” adding, “Bayern admitted Thomas Tuchel’s mistake. Kompany decided to join Kim next season. Rumors of Kim’s release have grown in recent days, but Kompany wants to join Kim. According to Bayern’s internal analysis, Tuchel and Kim Min-jae’s interaction was not ideal.”
Bild also reported that ‘Bayern is making plans for the next season as they re-evaluate Kim Min-jae.’ The media reported, ‘Bayern is making plans with Kim Min-jae. Kompany wants to work with Kim Min-jae.’ and, ‘In internal analysis, Bayern concluded that Kim Min-jae needed more communication, dialogue, and support that he lacked under Tuchel.’ Another media outlet, TZ, also said, ‘The sports director of Max Ebele is making plans that include Kim Min-jae.’
Kim received attention from Inter Milan, but decided to stay in Bayern early on. Florian Flettenberg, dubbed the first tier when it comes to Bayern, said on his SNS, ‘Kim Min-jae’s rumor about Inter Milan is wrong. Kim has no intention of leaving Bayern, and he wants to stay. The contract is valid until 2028.
Kim Min-jae, who won the Italian Serie A Defensive Player of the Year award by leading Napoli to the victory in the 2022-2023 season, chose to go to Bayern, leaving behind love calls from Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain. Thomas Tuchel’s aggressive courtship was the decisive factor. Bayern established a Wolkle-class center back line called The Ligt, Kim Min-jae, and Dayo Upamecano. All three were top-class center backs with tremendous ransom and career.
However, it creaked due to frequent injuries. In the first half, De Ligt and Upamecano alternately collapsed due to injuries. Kim Min-jae had to lead the defense alone. There was even a controversy over his overwork. Despite the aftermath of the military training, Kim remained in the center of Bayern. However, as he did not show as much performance as he did in the last season, there were voices of concern. German media asked him if he showed any poor performance, giving him a low rating. However, statistics websites such as Huscoordcom always mentioned Kim Min-jae as the best defender in the Bundesliga in the first half. The best 11 in the first half of Bundesliga fans’ selection was also attributed to Kim.
However, the mood changed after the Asian Cup. While Kim Min-jae fell into a slump in each game, Bayern’s performance also plunged. To make matters worse, Erik Dyer, who was hired on loan from the winter transfer market, performed better than expected. Eventually, Bayern’s central defense was reorganized into The Licht-Dyer line. Kim Min-jae was disappointed in some matches. To be exact, he was disappointed in Tuchel’s tactics, so he lost points in each match he played. 안전놀이터
The decisive blow was in the first leg of the European Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid. Paired with Dyer due to the Licht’s injury, Kim was criticized for being involved in both runs. He was even criticized for his poor performance in the final minute. He said, “As a defender, I always played with confidence. But I was so confused here. There were many moments when I hesitated during the match because I didn’t play with confidence. I tried very hard to show what the coach wanted.” He continued, “If I were to be tactical, I should have met your demands more, but I didn’t do it properly. As a player, you have to know what you are good at and what you are not good at, what you make mistakes or what you are good at.”
Kim Min-jae was in a desperate bid. The competition became fiercer with the recruitment of Hiroki Ito, but Kim Min-jae was full of confidence. Unlike last summer, when there was an aftermath of military training, he joined the team in good health. Kim Min-jae won the hearts of Coach Kompany with his aggressive defense. Kim Min-jae called last season a “personally unsatisfactory season” through the German media T-Online. “When the season is over, I always have a lot of thoughts,” he said. “It’s important to learn from what I showed, what I lacked, what I needed, and what I had to do. To compete at a higher level, I have to overcome everything.” He continued, “Next season I will be stronger.” A new season of “Stronger Monster” is already expected.