Bayern, which played the 23rd round of the 2023-2024 German Bundesliga at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, won 2-1 over RB Leipzig on the 25th (Korea time). Bayern maintained its second place in the league (53 points), keeping its gap with first-place Bayer 04 Leverkusen (61 points) at eight points.
Kim Min-jae started on the bench for the first time in the Bundesliga. Instead of Kim Min-jae, who has maintained his starting position since moving to Bayern this season, Eric Dier and Matthijs Dericht have formed a center back combination.
"Kim Min-jae needed a break. He has been on a tight schedule since the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup and was deployed to the team without any time difference," coach Thomas Tuchel told a post-match press conference.
Kim Min-jae also said he didn't have any special tactical significance like Tuchel. "My condition is not bad," he said in an interview with Football List YouTube channel "Polly TV" and Mix Zone after the match, adding, "The coach uses tactics according to the opponent team every game rather than tactical changes. I changed the combination of center backs during training on the eve of the game, and I think it was decided there." He said the selection was not completely changed, but rather a secret plan for this game.
"I only played for 10 minutes," Kim Min-jae said. "I'm glad my team won the game even though my performance has not been good recently. The recent trend has been very bad and I needed an opportunity to turn it around. It was a difficult game today, but I think I created such an opportunity," he said, expressing satisfaction that he won an important victory to turn the mood around at the end of the season.
After the game, he met and talked with Leipzig's Elif Elmas. Elmas was one of the players along with Kim Min-jae who helped Napoli win the Italian Serie A title for the first time in 33 years last season. This winter, he came to Leipzig as a direct replacement for Emil Forsberg and faced Kim Min-jae as an enemy.
"I was close to Elmas as well. When I went to Naples, I was a native of Fenerbahce, so I helped him a lot. I asked him if he was doing well and if he had adapted to the new team," Kim said, adding that he exchanged simple greetings with Elmas.
Meanwhile, Dyer, who started instead of Kim Min-jae, performed well. Overall, there were no defensive mistakes, and the rear build-up was more stable than before. In the second half of extra time, Harry Kane delivered a starting pass to score a dramatic winning goal from the back. As England coach Gareth Southgate was in the stadium, it was a performance that could be expected to join the national team.
Dyer said on the possibility of joining the English national team, "I have to focus on myself and play my best, rather than being conscious of the national team. Other than that, I have no choice but to focus on my performance in the team rather than Euro 2024.
Dyer said he and his teammate and rival Kim Min-jae are also on good terms. "Just as I did with Sonny at Tottenham Hotspur, I have a great relationship with Kim. Kim Min-jae is a fantastic player and a great friend," Dyer said with a smile. He thanked other teammates for their help in various ways to help him adjust.
BY: 스포츠토토핫