He’ll start against Real → Will it be a sign of his final performance?
It was a good run, and a good win.
Kim Min-jae knows the feeling. He’s been struggling, waiting for the right time, and the light is starting to shine again.
Kim Min-jae was substituted for Mateusz Durich shortly after the start of the second half in the home match against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 31st round of the 2023-2024 German Bundesliga at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Monday (Aug. 28). Since last month, Munich have been using Dürich and Eric Dier as their starting center back pairing, but Dürich has been plagued by injuries all season.
Against Frankfurt, Dier went down early in the first half and received treatment. As a precaution for the next match, Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel dropped Durich in favor of Kim Min-Jae. Munich will host Real Madrid in the first leg of the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League semifinals at the Allianz Arena on May 1 at 4:00 a.m.
It’s a sign that he’s saving Derrikht for the Real game.
However, the story coming out of the German media is different. With Derrikht’s form so poor, there are speculations that Kim Min-Jae will start alongside Dier in the first leg against Real. After being relegated to the bench alongside his usual center-back partner, Dayo Upamecano, for the past month, Kim has the chance to start the game.
Kim had a decent performance against Frankfurt. He had 56 touches in 45 minutes on the day, while throwing 51 passes, completing 47 of them for a 92% success rate. He won both ground balls. He won three aerial balls in four attempts.
Beyond the numbers, Kim did everything that Tuchel emphasizes, including playing aggressive defense and establishing a stable defensive line. His partnership with Dyer 스포츠토토 wasn’t bad either.
In fact, Kim struggled against Frankfurt last December, earning a red card. Munich were thrashed 1-5. Four months later, they redeemed themselves somewhat with a good performance at home.
Kim Min-jae has also noticed the positive vibes surrounding him lately. He posted a photo from the Frankfurt game on his social media, writing “Feeling well” in English and adding a thumbs-up emoji. Kim Min-jae could play up to six games this season. Two Champions League semifinals, three Bundesliga games, and the Champions League final if he plays for Real.
We wonder if his good feelings will translate on the pitch.