[인터풋볼] Reporter Dong-min Dong-min = Min-jae Kim is serving as an art and sports officer online in Germany.
German media ‘Bild’ reported on the 15th (Korean time), “Kim Min-jae is combining his life as a player with his military service obligations. Min-jae Kim completed three weeks of basic military training before coming to Munich. Now he only needs to complete 100 hours of service.” Min-jae Kim “It can be carried out online in Munich through video conferencing with young people,” the report said.
Minjae Kim completed his military service by winning a gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. There was no need to enlist as a soldier. However, you must complete basic military training and volunteer work as an arts and sports personnel. Since I am spending my career as a player in Europe, it has been difficult to complete volunteer work hours, but I plan to do it online.
Minjae Kim completed basic military training. Ahead of last season, Kim Min-jae went to basic military training for three weeks. At the time, Kim Min-jae completed basic military training and said, “What was really difficult was night guard duty.” At a time when transfers were in full swing, Kim Min-jae entered the training center and later transferred to Bayern Munich.
At Naples, Kim Min-jae developed into a world-class center back, but at the time of his transfer, it was difficult to secure a solid starting position. Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano were also good defenders, so it seemed like there would be fierce competition for the starting spot.
Kim Min-jae did not play much time during the pre-season. It was consideration for joining Munich immediately after completing basic military training. As the season began, Kim Min-jae immediately became a starter. He appeared as a starter from the opening game of the Bundesliga and showed stable defense.
Afterwards, he continued to play as the starting center back and reliably protected Munich’s backline. Even when Upamecano and De Ligt were injured and absent, Minjae Kim continued to play full time. Munich, who felt the center back needed reinforcement, signed Dier on loan through the winter transfer market. Kim Min-jae’s position did not change.
However, as the second half of the season entered, a change occurred. Things changed when Kim Min-jae went to the Asian Cup. Munich welcomed Eric Dier on loan through the winter transfer window. Even with Dyer’s joining, Kim Min-jae’s position seemed likely to remain the same. However, coach Tuchel began sending out Dier and De Ligt as starting players.
Kim Min-jae’s time on the bench increased and his sense of the game decreased. Kim Min-jae was unable to demonstrate his skills in limited opportunities. In particular, in the match against Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) semifinals, he made two fatal mistakes and gave up two goals. Afterwards, Kim Min-jae was even placed on the release list.
Fortunately, with the arrival of Coach Kompany, Minjae Kim entered a new phase. Coach Kompany prefers aggressive players. In fact, Coach Kompany gave Kim Min-jae a positive evaluation. Even in the pre-season, Coach Kompany continued to use Kim Min-jae.
Contrary to expectations, Kim Min-jae showed his worst performance in the opening match. Kim Min-jae started as a starter and guarded the backline of Dayot Upamecano and Munich. However, they were unable to overcome the opponent’s pressure during the build-up process and provided an excuse for conceding a goal.
It later became the target of criticism. In Germany, Kim Min-jae was strongly criticized. Coach Kompany surrounded Kim Min-jae and had faith in him. Afterwards, Kim Min-jae continued to appear as a starter. However, the position was changed from right center back to left center back. At the same time, Kim Min-jae has found stability again and is reliably protecting Munich’s rear.
