Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) will not be able to play for the time being due to injury. The national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, confirmed Kim Min-jae's injury and excluded him from the team.

The Korea Football Association noted on the 15th that "it was determined that Kim Min-jae needs treatment and recovery due to left Achilles tendonitis during the A-match period, and the final decision was made to release him from the national team gathering," adding, "the decision on a potential replacement will be announced later."

Kim Min-jae's injury was already anticipated. Kim Min-jae, who was experiencing difficulties, ultimately faced worsening conditions due to injury.

Bayern Munich's head coach Vincent Kompany stated during a press conference with local media on the 14th (Korean time) that Kim Min-jae is currently in a condition requiring rest.

Kompany said, "Kim Min-jae is carrying an injury," expressing hope that "the injury condition is not too bad, but he seems likely to miss a few weeks."

He added, "It is already known that there is an issue with (Kim Min-jae's) Achilles tendon," emphasizing the need to manage him to avoid too much strain.

Bayern Munich will play an away match against Union Berlin on the 15th in the 26th round of the 2024-2025 German Bundesliga. Following the custom of holding a pre-match press conference the day before the game, coach Kompany attended the media room on the 14th along with Director General Max Eberl, where these points were announced early in the conference.

Union Berlin is where Jeong Woo-young, who became the first adult player from Bayern Munich to play in the UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga in 2018, currently plays.

According to TZ, Kim Min-jae's injury is not at a level that requires immediate surgery, but it has worsened to the point where there is a possibility of him missing games even after the March A-match break.

Kim Min-jae's absence is a critical blow to Bayern Munich. The team is currently competing for titles in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League (UCL). It is undeniable that Kim Min-jae's role has been significant in this process.

Bayern Munich currently leads the league, ahead of second-place Bayer Leverkusen by 8 points.

In the UCL quarterfinals, they will meet Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan. It is still too early to guarantee victory in both the league and UCL.

Kim Min-jae is inevitably out for the upcoming match against Union Berlin as well as the game against St. Pauli on the 29th.

It is also uncertain whether he will play in the match against Augsburg on April 5.

What is certain is that Kim Min-jae, being a key center-back, will be given every effort by the club to ensure he can participate in the home match scheduled against the prestigious Italian team Inter Milan on April 9 at 4 a.m. (time of the match).

Additionally, his absence is a significant blow for coach Hong Myung-bo’s team, which is set to face the North and Central American World Cup third qualifiers this month. Kim Min-jae is the "core" of the national team defense. If he is absent, the likelihood of struggles in defense increases significantly, even in home matches.

Kim Min-jae's Achilles tendon issues began to worsen since a Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt last October.

However, Bayern Munich had no choice but to utilize Kim Min-jae, as two center-backs, Hiroki Ito and Aleksandar Stanisic, were injured.

If Kim Min-jae is sidelined, former England national team defender Eric Dier, who transferred from Tottenham, would have had to step in, but coach Kompany did not have great confidence in the slower Dier.

Consequently, Kim Min-jae continued to manage his playing time and remained a starter in every game of the first half.

However, as time progressed, the condition of his Achilles tendon did not improve. To make matters worse, Kim Min-jae played while receiving painkillers.

Ultimately, Kim Min-jae honestly revealed in an interview with local media that "there have been some issues since the Frankfurt match. I am struggling to recover," admitting that he has been affected by his injury.

Nevertheless, he did not complain about the insistence on starting in every match for the team.

Since the new year, Kim Min-jae's body has been sending continuous signals of distress.

As a result, he rested in two matches, including the Bundesliga away game against Hoffenheim in January and the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 playoff against Scotland's Celtic last month.

Ultimately, Kim Min-jae encountered problems after what was a crucial match against Bayer Leverkusen.

In the matches against Bayer Leverkusen, Kim Min-jae played all two games, managing to keep a clean sheet. He was also selected as part of the team of the week for the second leg of the round of 16 by the football statistics site WhoScored.com.

Due to Kim Min-jae's injury, a red alert has been raised not only for Bayern Munich but also for the national football team.

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