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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| 출처=UEFA |
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"Monster Centerback"The scene where Kim Min-jae is loved by his Bayern Munich teammates was seen right after the final whistle.
Munich captain and main goalkeeper Manuel Neuer lifted Kim Min-jae, who was nearby, after the home game of the fifth European Champions League phase of the 2024-2025 season against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
Centerback partner Dayot Upamecano and striker Harry Kane also flocked around Kim Min-jae. It was a scene that symbolized who the main character of this game was. According to the profile of the Korea Football Association, Kim Min-jae weighs 88 kilograms (81 kilograms in Bundesliga profile).
Kim Min-jae not only led the team to seven consecutive scoreless games, including the cup, with 'Iron Wall Mode', but also scored the first winning goal in the 37th minute of the first half in a set-piece situation to give the team a 1-0 victory. He scored his UCL debut goal three years after entering Europe and was also named the most valuable player of the game.
Kim Min-jae played full-time for 90 minutes, contributing to a scoreless victory by scoring 10 ball recoveries, 93% pass success rate (55 successful), one tackle, two ground races, one aerial ball contest success, two interceptions, one shot block, and seven clearings.
He also recorded a distance of 11.1 kilometers, which is as good as a midfielder. Records show that he didn't just play defense waiting at the back, but moved nonstop. The maximum speed is 33.6 km/h. It received an 8.2 rating, the highest in the team based on the statistics company 'Sofascore'. This is the highest personal rating this season.
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| APYonhap News |
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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| Source=Sofascore |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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Neuer, who is considered one of the best goalkeepers in German soccer history, was a representative colleague who cared for Kim Min-jae in rain or snow.
Regarding Kim Min-jae, who provided a run due to a back pass miss in the Bundesliga opener against Wolfsburg on the 8th, Neuer said, "Mistakes are also part of the game. It's not the kind of mistakes we often make, he said. "Kim Min-jae and Upamecano communicate enough from the back."
When he made a big mistake in the European Champions League against Real Madrid in May, he also wrapped up Kim Min-jae, saying, `Everyone's fault.'
Kim Min-jae led Munich's rebound with a thorough defense this season, his second season in Munich, with the full support of Neuer, one of the most influential players in the team.
Munich coach Bang-sang Kongpani trained in the first week, and our strikers didn't seem to have fun. If the strikers didn't have fun on the training ground, it means there's something there. This performance comes with a little confidence and (adaptation) time," he said, praising the defense for not allowing any points in seven consecutive games.
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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Munich, which ended up with a humiliating no-show last season, is the lone leader in the league with nine wins, two draws and 29 points, beating second-place Frankfurt (23 points) with six points.
In the European Champions League, he overcame a crushing defeat against Barcelona and won two consecutive games to rise to 11th place with 3 wins, 2 losses and 9 points. In the Champions League phase, eight teams from 1st to 8th will go straight to the round of 16, and from 9th to 24th will play in the round of 16. The 25th to 36th places will be relegated to the second Europa League.
PSG, where Lee Kang-in played as a substitute in the second half, remained at four points due to the defeat and fell to 26th place, the relegation zone.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
