Kim Min-jae seems to have cemented himself as Mathias der Licht’s partner in preseason.
The German ‘kicker’ reflected on Bayern Munich’s Asia tour on Thursday (April 4). In addition to the financial benefits, he also highlighted what the team gained in preparation for next season. Looking at the midfield situation, Konrad Reimer partnering Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka being pushed out, the discovery of Mathis Teller, and the leadership of Thomas Tuchel, he also talked about the defense.
The ‘Kicker’ said, “Tuchel is based on a back four. Der Licht is a defensive leader. Munich brought in Kim Min-jae to play next to Der Licht. In the third friendly, Tuchel made an energetic change. He utilized Dayot Upamecano and Benjamin Pavard. With Fabregas being linked with a move away, consistent playing time could make a difference. Fabar should be the first-choice right-back ahead of Nusar Mazrouei, while Alfonso Davies should start in place of the injured Rafael Guerrero.”
It’s interesting to see Kim Min-jae rated as a first-choice defender. The former Napoli defender joined Munich this summer. Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Newcastle United were all interested in him, but he chose Munich. Prior to his arrival, Kim joined a military academy for basic military training. After winning a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Jakarta, he was exempted from military service, but he still had to undergo basic military training, so he joined a training center.
When I was in training, the Munich transfer speculation started in earnest. As soon as I got out, I took the Munich medical. Normally, I would go to Germany, but Munich sent a medical team to conduct a medical test for Kim Min-jae. They were serious about signing him. When he came to Munich, he wasn’t fully fit. He needed to get fit, like all players who come from training camp.
He proved himself to be a starter. After the Kawasaki Frontale, he traveled to Singapore and started against Liverpool. His performance was spectacular. He played solid defense, including a fantastic pass to Serge Gnabry. The soccer statistician Couch Score gave him a rating of 7.4, the highest after Gnabry and Sane, while his partner Upamecano had a rating of 6.4. That’s how good he was. His stats were excellent. He had a passing success rate of 95% (42 attempts, 40 successful) and a long ball success rate of 100% (6 attempts, 6 successful).
He added an assist to his tally and showed off his solid defense, which was characterized by his aggressiveness and pace, and really impressed Tuchel. The Licht partnership is a possibility. On July 28, Der Licht told Germany’s Sport1: “I’m happy that Kim Min-jae is here. He is a very positive and friendly player. I’m sure he will be a great asset for Munich. He has done a great job in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) as well as in the Italian Serie A. He has done a great job. Munich now have four great center backs. They are the right choice if you want to win the treble.”
“Last season, me and Upamecano played almost every game in the second half of the season because of Luka’s injury. It wasn’t easy because we had to play all the time in matches that were three or four days apart. It wasn’t easy physically, but having multiple options is good for us and for the coach. Kim Min-jae will do a good job. He’ll be able to show his mobility but also bring stability and calmness.” We can’t wait to see how they work together. 스포츠토토