"Kim Min-jae delivered his best performance of the season..." German coaches lament the timing of the injury... Will he be okay for the World Cup?

*This content was translated by AI.

German coaches expressed regret over the injury of South Korean defender Kim Min-jae (30, Bayern Munich).

Kim Min-jae started in the away match against Wolfsburg in the 33rd round of the 2025-2026 German Bundesliga, held at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, on the 10th (Korean time), contributing to his team's 1-0 victory.

On that day, Kim Min-jae played as the right-sided defender in his team's formation and formed a "Korean-Japanese center-back" partnership with Japan's Ito Hiroki. His performance was excellent. Kim Min-jae recorded 65 ball touches, a 96% pass success rate (53 successful passes out of 55 attempts), one tackle, two clearances, and two interceptions. He also won one ground duel and one aerial duel.

However, due to concerns about his physical condition, Kim Min-jae was substituted off at the start of the second half, replaced by Dayot Upamecano. In response, German outlet Bavarian Football reported, "Both Kim Min-jae and Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich) left the field due to medical issues. According to Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany, the injuries are not serious, but the substitution was a precautionary measure."

However, the outlet noted, "Kim Min-jae showcased one of his best performances of the season before being substituted off," and added, "Goretzka also likely would not have been substituted if not for the injury. In particular, it is regrettable that this match could be Goretzka's last appearance in a Bayern Munich jersey."

Currently, Kim Min-jae has been pushed to the "third option." Manager Kompany has been operating the season with Jonathan Tah and Upamecano as the starting center-backs. Kim Min-jae is reportedly linked with clubs such as Newcastle and Tottenham in England. Goretzka is also facing difficulties in the starting lineup competition and is highly likely to seek a new option this summer. According to reports, Italian club AC Milan is targeting Goretzka. Both Kim Min-jae and Goretzka could be playing their farewell matches at Bayern Munich.

Still, it is fortunate that he avoided a serious injury. This is also positive news for the South Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo. Had Kim Min-jae suffered a serious injury, it could have impacted his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, scheduled for next month. However, it appears there is no major issue.

Kompany, after the Wolfsburg match, explained regarding the injuries of Kim Min-jae and Goretzka, "It is not a serious situation. It was merely a precautionary measure to prevent injury."

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, which has already secured the league title this season, recorded 27 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss (86 points) with the victory against Wolfsburg. The gap with second-place Borussia Dortmund (70 points) is significant.

The Bundesliga consists of 18 teams in the first division, each playing a total of 34 matches in a season. Bayern Munich will play their final league match against FC Cologne on the 16th.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.