British media outlet 90min selected 25 of the world’s best center backs and announced their rankings on the 13th (Korea Standard Time). Munich players are also on the list. Kim Min-jae is ranked eighth, the highest in Munich. Matisse the Licht, who plays as a starting member in the second half of the year, was ranked 22nd, while Dayo Upamecano, who played as a center back in the first half of the year along with Kim Min-jae, was ranked 25th. The No. 1 player overall was Antonio Rudiger of Real Madrid.
“Fans from all over Europe paid attention to Kim Min-jae, who led Napoli to win Serie A in the 2022-2023 season,” the media said of Kim Min-jae, who is ranked eighth, adding, “Munich has one of the best players in the world.”
Among the competitors, The Licht said, “There is no doubt about his talent, and the transfer to Munich helped rediscover his potential.” Regarding Upamecano, he said, “His position as France’s center back is solid, and he is one of the best options thanks to his strength, speed and expectation.”
Kim Min-jae, who was ranked the highest among Munich centerbacks by the media, is currently Munich’s candidate center back. In recent games, Munich was the only one among the four centerbacks who did not play and seemed to be pushed to the rear.
There were many concerns until Kim Min-jae moved to Munich ahead of this season. Munich had a solid position as the main center backs, The Licht and Upamecano. Kim Min-jae seemed to have to be reborn as the main players through fierce competition with them, and there were many concerns that he would have less time to play.
However, concerns were unfounded. Coach Thomas Tuchel of Munich started Kim from the first game of the league, and managed his physical condition by substituting Kim, who had not been physically fit at the beginning of the season. Kim, who was then fully fit, surpassed the two players to occupy a position as the starting center back. The other position was up to Upamecano. The Licht suffered four injuries in the first half alone, failing to fully recover his physical condition.
Kim was strong as he defended Munich’s defense. Local German media criticized Munich’s defense and did not give good reviews to him, but Tuchel expressed strong trust in him. When Upamecano, his partner, failed to play, he also played with defensive midfielder Leon Goretzka as a center back.
It was after the Asian Cup that Kim Min-jae’s solid position began to change. Due to the Asian Cup in January, Kim Min-jae left the Munich squad, and Munich had only two professional center backs, so it began to strengthen its center back in the winter transfer market. The player Munich recruited was Dyer, who rarely played this season at Tottenham Hotspur.
Not many people expected Dyer to play many games in Munich, as Munich was ahead of Tottenham in their objective performance. However, Tuchel gave him steady opportunities, and in the absence of Kim Min-jae, Dyer established himself as Tuchel’s center back.
Dyer’s presence remained intact after Kim returned. Kim played three full-time matches in four matches since the Asian Cup, and seemed to still be trusted by Tuchel. In one match where Kim rested, Tuchel put forward The Licht and Dyer as center backs, and the two players later became Munich’s main center backs.
Kim Min-jae, who is considered Munich’s best center back by various media, has begun to lose ground in the starting lineup.
Kim Min-jae failed to start in four consecutive matches, including the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, and he played in only 15 minutes in four matches. Tuchel said Dyer and The Licht were the main center backs, adding that Kim Min-jae was pushed back in the main competition.
Kim Min-jae started the Bundesliga match against Heidenheim for the first time in about a month on the 7th, but he was disappointed. Kim Min-jae worked with Upamecano, who started the match for the first time in two months, but failed to prevent his team’s 2-3 upset loss. In the last run scene, Kim Min-jae failed to position himself properly, allowing a run.
Munich, which missed the league title, is focusing on the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals against Arsenal on the 18th. Coach Tuchel announced that Kim Min-jae and Upamecano could play once again, signaling a rotation in the league match against Cologne on the 13th. However, Tuchel’s choice in this match was Dyer and The Licht, and Upamecano played as a substitute, but Kim Min-jae did not even get on the ground.
Kim Min-jae, who was virtually behind in the main competition this season, is embroiled in a number of transfer rumors, but he plans to prepare for the next season in Munich.
Tuchel, who does not use himself as the main player, will leave Munich after this season, so he will compete for the main player again under the new coach next season. Kim Min-jae, whose ability has been proven to be ranked eighth in the world, is expected to be his homework to regain his skills in the rest of the game.
BY: 토토