Bayern Munich: Kim Min-jae determined to get back in starting XI
Bayern Munich struggled defensively in February during that dreadful run of three defeats. They conceded numerous chances in games, which effectively cost them in the Bundesliga title race. There has been a slight improvement in defense over the last few weeks, as Bayern are unbeaten in the last five games across all competitions.
Thomas Tuchel has used the center-back partnership of Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt during the run of good results in the past few weeks. The German coach is expected to persist with the same center-back pairing once the Bundesliga resumes after the international break.
Kim Min-jae played a significant number of minutes during the run of three defeats in February. The South Korean defender has been Tuchel’s first-choice center-back during the first half of the season. His departure for the Asian Cup in January was considered a big blow for Die Roten and Tuchel.
The former Napoli center-back has to wait for his chance since Dier and De Ligt are doing fairly well. While talking to T-online a few days ago, Kim Min-jae expressed his determination to get back in the starting XI. The South Korean defender is learning from this unique experience on the bench since he has never spent a long time out of the starting XI.
""I've never experienced this before, but I think I can learn something from it. Just because I'm not playing doesn't mean I'm completely thrown off track. I always have confidence in my abilities when I go on the pitch. Of course, I'm thinking a lot at the moment. So far, I've played a lot of games, but because there are so many good players here at Bayern, it can happen that I don't play.""
- Kim Min-jae
With plenty of games on the horizon after the international break, Kim Min-jae will certainly get a good amount of game time until the end of the season. He should use the international break to get back in form while playing for South Korea.
Apart from Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano has also lost his place in the starting lineup after getting sent off in the back-to-back games against Lazio and VfL Bochum in February. The former RB Leipzig center-back will hope to use the games for France to get back in form after a difficult last few weeks.
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Tuchel will have a selection dilemma in the right-back position when the international break comes to an end. Noussair Mazraoui is expected to be fit by the end of March, while Sacha Boey has also recovered from injury. Joshua Kimmich has done a fine job in the right-back position over the last few weeks. It will be interesting to see if Tuchel will stick with Kimmich despite having two senior right-backs available for selection.
Meanwhile, Alphonso Davies will play regularly in the left-back position since Raphael Guerreiro is on the sidelines due to injury. The former Borussia Dortmund full-back pulled out of the Portuguese squad for the international break. There will be plenty to ponder for Tuchel in defense once players return to Sabner Strasse next week.