Four options down? Kim Min-jae's bench->The Licht + Diary selection fell behind even Upamecano

Will the team lose four options? Kim Min-jae (28, Bayern Munich) failed to play in the rotation and stayed in the bench.

Kim Min-jae was also lagging behind Dayo Upamecano. Despite local media's prediction of his selection, he failed to play in the match against FC Cologne, ranking 17th in the relegation zone, adding to cloud his future course of action in Munich.

Kim Min-jae was absent after failing to play at a home match against FC Cologne in the 29th round of the Bundesliga in the 2023-24 season held at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany on the 13th. Munich shook off its sluggishness of its second consecutive league victory by winning 2-0. Munich, which had 63 points, barely managed to keep its second place in the goal difference (46) ahead of Stuttgart (63 points, 33 points).

As for Kim Min-jae, he seems to have been pushed back to the bench in just one game after playing full-time after starting against Heidenheim in the 28th round of the league. Including the absence of the match against Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League, which was held during the week, Kim Min-jae failed to play even as a substitute for two consecutive matches.

It was a match that could reaffirm coach Thomas Tuchel's cold faith in Kim Min-jae. Despite the league match against FC Cologne, which was in the relegation zone, Tuchel again brought up the defense combination Matthias the Licht-Eric Dier, who started in the first Champions League match against Arsenal just three days ago.

Munich took out 4-2-3-1, with goalkeeper Sven Ulaihi keeping the goal. Nusair Mazrawi-The Licht-Dier-Joshua Kimihi formed a four-back line. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Rafael Geheiro played in the third term, and Kingsley Coman-Thomas Mueller-Martis Tell supported Harry Kane, the front-line one-top. The aftermath of the first Champs match against Arsenal and some rotation to arrange their physical strength in the second match.

However, the game turned out to be quite frustrating. In particular, Munich and Cologne exchanged critical chances several times in the first half, but failed to score a goal. At Cologne, Adamian's critical header headed straight to the goalkeeper of Munich Ulrich in the 20th minute of the first half. In the 30th minute of the first half, Munich Geheiro had a chance with the goalkeeper, but his shot hit the opponent goalkeeper and missed.

In the 35th minute of the first half, Munich's Kane shot a direct second ball inside the box and missed the post. Then, his shot in the 38th minute of the first half also went towards the side of the net. Afterwards, Kane and Tell made waves to score, but failed to open the Cologne goal, and ended the first half with a 0-0 draw.

In the second half, Tuchel first pulled out the replacement card. In the 16th minute of the second half, The Licht was pulled out and Dayo Upamecano was added. The scene clearly shows that the current three options of Munich's central defender are not Kim Min-jae. In the end, Kim failed to step on the field even as a substitute, as Dyer, who played full time, and Upamecano, who was replaced.

Tuchel's decision is also understandable. Munich is also facing a situation wherein it has to do its best to compete among the top four teams that can advance to the Champions League in the next season. The gap with Leverkusen (76 points), which is ranking first in the league, is widened by 13 points.

However, including Stuttgart, which is ranking third, tied with Munich (63 points), RB Leipzig, which is ranking fourth, and Dortmund, which are ranking fifth, are all trailing Munich by six points with 56 points. If the team loses consecutively, it could drop to below fifth place, where it is impossible to advance to the next Champions League.

In the midst of such a crisis, additional changes in the defense might have been difficult to maintain the 1-0 lead that was narrowly secured by Rafael Geheiro's first goal in the 20th minute of the second half. However, until the end of the game, he seemed to ignore Kim even as a substitute. Rumors of discord that has been circulating in the German media recently, or reasonable suspicion that Tuchel is pointing fingers at Kim as the cause of Munich's defeat.

Munich scored the winning goal in the 20th minute of the second half. Kimihi's pass was directed to Geheiro, who was waiting outside the box for a corner kick. After touching the ball once, Geheiro shook the cologne net with a powerful left foot-winding shot. It was an exquisite kick that even Cologne goalie Schwabet could not afford to kick.

Munich aimed for an additional goal through Mussiala's shot, but almost lost the point due to Cologne's counterattack. Upamecano made a fatal pass miss in the 44th minute of the second half. Walz Schmidt connected with a shot, but Dyer blocked it. Ulrich blocked the ensuing second ball shot, barely getting out of the danger of losing a point. Munich, which caught the flow, calmly scored the closing goal after Müller caught the ball taking advantage of the opponent's mistake in extra time in the second half. It was Munich, which narrowly won the match with a score of 2-0. 토토사이트

In the end, Kim Min-jae had to watch Munich win from the bench, which was contrary to the German media and local expectations. Earlier, the Bundesliga secretariat predicted Kim Min-jae and Upamecano as a central defensive combination in Munich's starting lineup against Cologne on its official website.

It was a reasonable prospect not only because Munich took on Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League just three days ago, but also because the second leg is scheduled to take place next week. Most German media also predicted that Kim Min-jae will highly likely start.

Even Tuchel said in a pre-interview with Germany's TZ on Wednesday, "It is important that The Licht and Dier play together and work together. However, the two players need to prepare for the midweek match (the second Champions League match)," adding, "We don't need them at the match against Cologne. Upamecano and Kim Min-jae will also have chances," hinting at backup defense.

Nevertheless, as he eventually chose the combination of The Licht and Dyer, Tuchel also showed himself that he has very little faith in Kim Min-jae.

In fact, it is now a catastrophe. No matter what kind of games Munich will perform in the remaining season, it will not be easy for Tuchel to give the team a chance to play as a starting pitcher unless something special happens. The possibility of Tuchel playing in the second Champs Elysees on Friday has become very uncertain.

If he fails to play in a row against Union Berlin, which will be held again just three days after the second leg against Arsenal at 1:30 a.m. next Sunday (Korea time), Kim Min-jae has no choice but to hope that Tuchel's term will end soon.