Kim Min-jae faces heavy defense burden as Bayern loses major players to injuries

It's literally a bolt from the blue. Kim Min-jae (29, Bayern Munich) has lost two defensive partners in an instant. Following Alphonso Davies (25), Dayot Upamecano (27) has also been ruled out for the season.

The German 'Bild' reported on the 27th (Korean time) that "the knee injuries of Bayern stars Davies and Upamecano are far more serious than initially expected. Davies has not only torn his anterior cruciate ligament. A check-up by the team doctor and club revealed cartilage damage as well. He has already successfully undergone surgery."

Upamecano is also unlikely to return within this season. The media noted, "Unless a miracle occurs, it is certain that Upamecano will be out for the season. Given his current condition, he will need at least 3 months for recovery."

Depending on the surgical outcome, more time may be needed. Bild explained, "However, he could be out longer. Like Davies, Upamecano must undergo surgery. After the surgery, we will be able to confirm exactly how long he will be absent."

This is a major setback for Bayern. They have lost half of their starting defenders, who are responsible for the team’s back four, in an instant. Especially, Davies collapsed right after renewing his contract with Bayern.

Davies injured his knee during the 3rd-4th place match between Canada and the U.S. in the 2024 North and Central America and Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF) Nations League on the 24th. He started the match but collapsed just 12 minutes into the game due to the injury.

After the game, Davies was spotted walking alone, but the precise examination results revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The rehabilitation period is expected to be as long as 6 months. Bayern stated, "Davies was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after returning from the Canada national team. He is scheduled to undergo surgery today and will likely be out for several months."

Davies' agent, Nick Huise, revealed it was national team coach Jesse Marsch's fault. He expressed, "Marsch should have handled the situation better. The injury could have been avoided 100%. The health of the players must be the priority. The national team should protect the players better," he said angrily.

An even bigger problem is Upamecano's season-ending injury. Although he collapsed from left knee arthritis during the international match period, he was expected to return within a month. Bayern also announced, "Upamecano will not be able to play for the next few weeks."

However, examination results revealed that Upamecano is expected to be out for more than 3 months. Bild reported, "Upamecano has damaged cartilage in his left knee joint," adding, "It is unclear exactly when the injury occurred. Upamecano was said to have sustained the injury after winning against Croatia. He has frequently suffered from issues with his hips and back recently but played through it."

The media emphasized that this is a very bitter blow for coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern is not only competing for the Bundesliga title but also facing a tough UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinal against Inter Milan soon.

Currently, Bayern is at the top of the league with 62 points, 6 points ahead of second-place Bayer Leverkusen (56 points). Given the current momentum, it seemed likely they could maintain their first-place position, but with Davies and Upamecano collapsing in succession, the future has become uncertain.

This has made Kim Min-jae's responsibilities even heavier. He will need to coordinate with Eric Dier and Ito Hiroki to anchor Bayern's defense. It would not be an exaggeration to say the trophy's direction hinges on how long Bayern's defense can hold up around Kim Min-jae.

The problem is that Kim Min-jae is also not in good condition. He has been feeling Achilles tendon pain since October of last year and has been absent since the match against Union Berlin on the 15th. At that time, Coach Kompany stated, "It is already known that (Kim Min-jae) has problems with his Achilles tendon. Now we must manage him carefully to avoid putting too much pressure on him."

However, Kim Min-jae has returned to training faster than expected. He was spotted in training photos released by Bayern on the 25th. As a result, there are forecasts that Kim Min-jae may be able to play in the match against St. Pauli on the 29th. However, there are concerns that he may be overworked again due to team circumstances.

For now, Bayern is likely to fill Davies' absence with Ito or Raphael Guerreiro and assign Dier or Ito to partner with Kim Min-jae. Bild pointed out, "One thing is clear: the absence of Davies is a huge shock for Bayern. During this crucial time of the season, they must replace a swift left-back. While Ito is the most likely to play left-back, there are also Guerreiro and Josip Stanisic. However, none of them are as fast as Davies."

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