Eric Dier's Bayern Munich future brightens amid injuries and coach's praise

The candidate for release is changing its position. Eric Dier (31) has an increased likelihood of continuing with Bayern Munich next season.

The German outlet Kicker reported on the 15th (Korean time), "Will Dier secure his future at Bayern? He is regarded as an exemplary professional player at Bayern. It now seems he will have a future in Munich."

The media stated, "Dier and Thomas Müller do not always play regularly, but they are players who are always in demand," adding, "No one at Munich has spoken badly about Dier. Acquired from Tottenham 14 months ago, he is not a starting player, but in some respects, he can still be regarded as a key player."

An unexpected development. Initially, Dier was likely to leave the team as a free agent (FA) when his contract expires this coming summer. He surprised many with his performance as a key player after joining Bayern from Tottenham last January, but he has been pushed to the bench this season.

Dier's position has narrowed with the departure of head coach Thomas Tuchel and the arrival of new head coach Vincent Kompany. Due to his slower pace, he remained on the bench under Kompany’s system, which raises the defensive line. Coach Kompany mostly used the duo of Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano without rotation. Naturally, Dier was mentioned as a top candidate for release, and rumors of a transfer to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have emerged.

However, the atmosphere has changed recently. With Upamecano injured, Dier's playing time has gradually increased. He did not miss his chance. He showed a much more stable performance than expected, demonstrating that he could fulfill his role as a backup defender.

Additionally, Kim Min-jae has also fallen due to injury. He has been struggling with an Achilles tendon injury since last October, ultimately causing issues. Fortunately, he avoided surgery but now requires several weeks of rest. Joining the Korean national team for the March A-match was also unsuccessful.

Naturally, Dier's importance has also increased. Kicker noted, "With Kim Min-jae's injury, Dier may get more playing time. Of course, the future remains uncertain. Up until now, the possibility of re-signing has always seemed very slim, but now it seems Bayern is changing its mind."

Max Eberl, the Director General of Bayern, revealed that negotiations are set to begin soon. He said, "Dier has perfectly demonstrated his value," and explained that together with Director General Christoph Freund and Coach Kompany, they are considering how Dier's future might unfold. He also added, "We will soon engage in these discussions."

Coach Kompany also appears to be satisfied with Dier. He stated at a recent press conference, "The attributes that a player like Dier possesses are essential to the team. A perfect professional mentality, the desire to develop oneself, and the aspiration to improve teammates."

Moreover, Coach Kompany praised, "Sometimes it's more important to emphasize players who haven't played a lot. Dier has played quite a bit until now, though. He has played an important role in crucial matches for our team."

In particular, a player like Dier, who excellently fulfills the backup role quietly, is sure to please the coach. Coach Kompany remarked, "It's hard to find the right balance in a squad. Every coach wants at least one top player and a suitable replacement for them. However, it is especially difficult to combine teamwork at this level."

He added, "I really admire players like Leon Goretzka and Dier. These players are a great help to the team. They can say that if they focus on their tasks and put in the effort, their turn will come eventually."

Kicker also stated, "We need to find a player who is both highly skilled and very smart. A player who doesn't utter a single complaint even when sitting on the bench every week." They praised Dier, saying, "He has played in 17 matches this season, and in 9 of those, he logged enough time to receive a rating. Although he struggled in the match against VfL Bochum last week, he has been mostly stable otherwise."

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