Bayern Munich praises Kim Min-jae's performance despite ankle injury in UCL victory

Even with an injured ankle, Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) remains Kim Min-jae. He erased the harsh criticism while showcasing a solid defense in the 'War of the Stars.'

Bayern Munich secured a resounding 3-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League (UCL) held at the Fußball Arena Munich in Munich, Germany, on the 6th (Korea time).

Thus, Bayern gained a favorable position for advancing to the quarterfinals by bombarding 'Bundesliga rival' Leverkusen at home. Even losing by two goals in the second leg away match would assure their entry to the quarterfinals.

Bayern operated in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Harry Kane was positioned at the forefront, with Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, and Michael Oliseh on the second line. The midfield was managed by Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, while the back four consisted of Alphonso Davies, Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano, and Konrad Laimer. Manuel Neuer guarded the goal.

In response, Leverkusen adopted the same tactics. Amin Sardar took the forward position, with Alejandro Grimaldo, Florian Wirtz, and Jeremy Frimpong on the second line. The midfield was handled by Ezequiel Palacios and Granit Xhaka, while the back four included Piero Incapié, Mario Hermoso, Jonathan Tah, and Nordi Mukiele. Maciej Kowalski defended the goal.

A shocking scene occurred right from the start. In the 4th minute of the first half, Kim Min-jae won a contest against Frimpong but suffered a significant shock to his ankle. He twisted his left ankle as he collapsed onto the falling Frimpong. He complained of pain for a while but fortunately got back up shortly after and continued the match.

Bayern quickly broke the deadlock. In the 9th minute of the first half, Oliseh delivered a cross from the right flank. Kane jumped high and connected with a header, shaking the net.

Leverkusen also initiated a counterattack. In the 14th minute of the first half, Frimpong intercepted a back pass mistake by Upamecano and shot, but Neuer saved it, overcoming the crisis.

Bayern had several additional goal opportunities. In the 22nd minute of the first half, Musiala attempted a header during a corner kick but struck the crossbar, and in the 31st minute, Kimmich took a long-range shot from outside the box, which narrowly missed the goal. The first half ended with Bayern leading 1-0.

Bayern continued their momentum into the second half. They quickly added another goal. In the 9th minute of the second half, Kimmich's cross was mishandled by goalkeeper Kowalski, who dropped the ball, and Musiala calmly finished it to extend the lead to 2-0.

An unexpected injury setback occurred. In the 13th minute of the second half, captain Neuer requested a substitution due to discomfort. Reports indicated he experienced a muscular problem while celebrating Musiala's goal. Bayern hastily introduced backup goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.

The game tilted sharply following Leverkusen's red card. In the 17th minute of the second half, Mukiele, who already had one warning, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for obstructing Coman.

Bayern sealed the deal. In the 18th minute of the second half, Kane earned a penalty kick after being pulled down during a corner kick, and he scored directly, making it 3-0. With the momentum on their side, Bayern substituted Kim Min-jae and Goretzka in the 44th minute. The match concluded with Bayern's 3-goal victory.

Kim Min-jae's solid defense shone brightly. According to football statistics outlet 'Footmob,' he recorded a passing success rate of 89% (41/46), 4 clearances, 3 ball recoveries, and 9 passes in the attacking area during 89 minutes, successfully containing Leverkusen's offense. Leverkusen managed just 3 shots throughout the 90 minutes.

Kim Min-jae's performance deserves high praise particularly due to his resilience through injury. He twisted his ankle early in the match yet got back up and played nearly the entire game, contributing to the team's victory.

Moreover, Kim Min-jae has been suffering from Achilles tendon pain since last fall. There were reports that he requested rest from the team recently, but due to injuries to teammates and critical upcoming matches, he has not been able to take a break.

Kim Min-jae is indeed demonstrating why he is referred to as both a 'monster' and a 'robot' in Germany. Christoph Freund, the Director General of Bayern, remarked as Kim Min-jae's eyes were tearing up, 'Kim Min-jae is a machine. He won't suffer. He can resume playing immediately,' expressing no worries.

German media also showered Kim Min-jae with praise. 'TZ' noted, 'He fell early in the match after a tackle but took a short break for treatment. He continued playing and delivered an impressive performance with intensity. He consistently sought out wingers and connected passes, liberating the team from pressure,' giving him the highest rating of 1. In Germany, 1 is the best score.

'Aventen Zeitung' acknowledged Kim Min-jae with a score of 2 for his performance. The outlet remarked, 'Kim Min-jae has been consistently performing well recently and started as the left center-back in this match. He received treatment early in the game but was able to continue playing, showing a completely newfound confidence,' awarding him applause.

The assessment from 'Bild', which had been somewhat harsh towards Kim Min-jae, also recognized him. The outlet stated, 'Did Kim Min-jae exhibit unstable play? Not in this match. He displayed very good performance and made no mistakes in positioning,' giving him a score of 2. This score is the second highest, following Kane's who scored multiple goals.

After the match, coach Vincent Kompany said, 'The first half is over, but we still have the second leg against Leverkusen to play. It is important to maintain the same focus in the next game.' He added, 'Today we did many things well, and we need to do the same next week. There is no time for self-praise. We can be happy, but now we need to focus on the match against VfL Bochum and the second leg next week,' preparing for the remaining 90 minutes.

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