South Korea Coach Hong Myung-bo Criticises Bayern Munich For Worsening Kim Min-jae's Injury

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Bayern Munich's decision to play Kim Min-jae despite his Achilles issue has drawn criticism from South Korea's coach, Hong Myung-bo. Kim withdrew from the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Jordan due to this injury. Hong believes Bayern's insistence on playing him worsened the condition, leaving South Korea without a key player for crucial matches.

Hong expressed frustration, stating that Bayern failed to protect Kim adequately, leading to his absence in important games. "Unfortunately, Bayern Munich did not properly protect the player to prevent injury so we've ended up in a situation where we have to play these important matches without a key player," he told reporters. He emphasised that playing Kim just because a match is significant isn't justified.

Despite not appearing in Bundesliga matches in March, Kim participated in both legs of Bayern's Champions League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen. Hong highlighted that warning signs about Kim's condition were evident since last year. The decision to rest him aligns with their principles of safeguarding players' health.

Kim has been pivotal for Bayern this season, making 37 starts across all competitions. He leads the team in clearances (115), headed clearances (65), and duels won (176), matching Dayot Upamecano. In aerial duels, he tops with 169 attempts and 112 wins. Among defenders, only Upamecano surpasses him in tackles attempted (59) and won (36), while Kim has 54 attempts and 32 wins.

The former Napoli centre-back also excels in interceptions, recording 56 this term. His defensive contributions are crucial for Bayern as they prepare to face FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on March 29 after the international break.

Managing Workload Amidst Injuries

Vincent Kompany addressed Kim's situation before Bayern's clash with Union Berlin: "[Kim] has got problems with his Achilles, which was known already. It's now about managing his workload. We need to make sure we don't overwork him. Hopefully it's not too concerning." The focus remains on balancing his playing time to prevent further complications.

South Korea decided against keeping Kim for upcoming fixtures due to potential risks associated with his injury. This choice reflects their commitment to prioritising player welfare over immediate match outcomes.

Bayern Munich will resume their domestic campaign post-international break, aiming to maintain their strong defensive performances while ensuring players like Kim receive necessary care and rest.