There was someone else besides Kim Min-jae (29). Leon Goretzka (30, both from Bayern Munich) also had his position changed after Thomas Tuchel (56) left.

German 'Sport1' reported on the 22nd (Korean time) that 'the only person who did not want Leon Goretzka was coach Thomas Tuchel.'

Rumenigge said at an Infinity League event held in Munich that 'during the summer transfer window of 2023, the only person who did not want Goretzka was coach Tuchel, not the club,' adding that 'no Bayern executive has ever viewed Goretzka negatively.' He also noted that 'at that time, coach Tuchel continuously leaked player-related information to the media, which made the situation more difficult.'

In fact, Goretzka was mentioned as a transfer candidate last summer, but he chose to stay at Bayern, subsequently leading to a reassessment of his diligent attitude and performance.

Rumenigge praised Goretzka, saying, 'I am very pleased that Goretzka is gaining attention again. He truly deserves it. He has acted incredibly maturely and wisely. Despite the challenging circumstances, he proved himself and must be very happy now.'

Goretzka has also recently returned to the German national team, continuing his momentum with a decisive goal against Italy in the Nations League.

Goretzka's resurgence is similar to that of Bayern teammate Kim Min-jae.

Coach Tuchel publicly criticized Kim Min-jae after the Champions League match against Real Madrid last season, saying, 'A central defender should not go up that freely. He was too greedy. There was no one to help Kim Min-jae in that situation,' blaming Kim Min-jae for the conceded goal.

These comments sparked controversy in Germany. Evaluations followed, stating that the coach's attitude, which overlooked the overall defensive organization problem and criticized an individual, was 'excessive.'

Subsequently, Kim Min-jae fell to the bench, and Tuchel was dismissed after the end of the season. Under new coach Vincent Kompany, Kim Min-jae has recovered his form and is receiving praise for regaining the 'form of his SSC Napoli days.'

As a result, both Kim Min-jae and Goretzka experienced positive positional changes after coach Tuchel left. The two players are confidently returning to the center of the team, overcoming negative perceptions of themselves and proving their presence.

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