Kim Min-jae is playing despite his injury, but he is regaining his performance back to his Napoli days.
Kim Min-jae led Bayern Munich to a 1-0 victory in the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) phase of the 2024-2025 season against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Kim Min-jae scored the first goal with his head in the 38th minute of the first half when the goalkeeper failed to handle Joshua Kimmich's kick properly. It was Kim Min-jae's UCL debut goal. Kim Min-jae also presented Bayern with three points, showing excellent defense that made the first goal he scored the winning goal.
After the game, Germany's TZ said "Kim Min-jae is an essential player for Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. However, after his outstanding performance, Kim Min-jae also expressed his distress"Kim Min-jae is currently playing while enduring his injury," he said.
According to TZ, Kim Min-jae suffered an ankle injury against Frankfurt on October 7. Kim Min-jae is believed to have injured his Achilles tendon, and since then, he has been playing for nearly two months while enduring the injury.
What is surprising is that Kim Min-jae's performance, who is playing while managing his injuries, is improving. In a cool way, Kim Min-jae's defense was disappointing shortly after he was injured. Frankfurt also conceded three goals and lost four runs against Barcelona two weeks later, making it difficult for defender Kim Min-jae to avoid criticism.
However, since the match against Barcelona, Bayern has been winning seven consecutive games without losing any points. Although he has met relatively many weak teams, his scoreless against Benfica and PSG is quite meaningful. Kim Min-jae's evaluation has also improved recently. Now, the suspicion of Kim Min-jae has almost disappeared, and only favorable reviews are coming out for Kim Min-jae.
TZ also "Kim Min-jae, who had a conflicting debut season, is now a factor in Kompany's success. He is living up to the nickname of the `defensive monster' he got from Napoli, who previously won the Italian Serie A," he praised.
Because Kim Min-jae is performing so well, Kompany can't give Kim Min-jae a break. Still, Kim Min-jae is being taken out even a little early in the game where he is completely energized. Both Yosif Stanisic and Ito Hiroki, who can play as center backs, are injured, so it is the most consideration coach Kompany can give. Eric Dier is being completely shunned by Kompany.
Kim Min-jae is starting every game this season, including the national team. Kim Min-jae is physically struggling because he traveled between Korea and the Middle East. Kim Min-jae also had some problems after the match against PSG "Frank Frankfurt. It's a little hard to recover"He confessed.
But Kim Min-jae can't rest. Kim Min-jae is also a player who has a strong desire to play in the game. Kim Min-jae is expected to continue playing until the end of December when the winter break in the German Bundesliga comes. If it's a relief, there's no A-match schedule.
rlaeotlr2024@sportschosun.com
