Just two years ago Kim Minjae was at the apex of European football: Serie A Best Defender of the Season, helping Napoli with their first league title since 1990, and a guaranteed lock to be in any of your most trusted defender lists. Upon his record transfer to Bayern Munich, we were left daydreaming at the thought of the best Asian defender of all time playing alongside renowned players like Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Thomas Muller, and Manuel Neuer.
For much of his debut season at Bayern, Kim looked like his Napoli self, starting 21 matches in a row, serving as the most reliable CB amidst de Ligt's injuries and Upamecano's red cards. However, after returning from a tumultuous Asian Cup, he showed a dip in both form and confidence and found it difficult to break into Tuchel’s starting XI. His season concluded by losing out on the starting job to Eric Dier and contributing two pivotal errors that saw Bayern Munich crash out of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
Following a disappointing season by Bayern Munich standards, the club appointed former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany as manager, replacing Thomas Tuchel. Bringing in an unproven manager with just two seasons at Anderlecht and two at Burnley certainly carries some risk. However, the past certainly does not predict the future, whether it is markets, high school, or young football managerial careers. Here’s why the hiring of Kompany sets the stage for Kim Min Jae to have his best season yet.
During Bayern’s preseason friendlies, Kompany has already shown clear tactical changes across the defensive line. While previous managers (Tuchel - Bayern, Klinsmann - Korean National Team, Spaletti - Napoli) utilized Kim at left CB, Kompany has been deploying Kim as either the middle CB in a back three or the right CB in a classic back four. Left, middle, right, what’s the difference for Kim Min Jae?
Though naturally right-footed, Kim has a competent left foot, inducing prior managers to use him as a left CB in a football market where quality left-footed CBs are scarce. As seen in the August 3 preseason match against Tottenham in Seoul, Kim being at the right CB position allowed him to make passes from his right side to the right wing, leading an already running Gnabry and Boey into the attacking third. When Kim played at left CB, he was forced to pass from his right foot to the left wing, from his outside to the inside of the LB/LW, ultimately resulting in Alphonso Davies having to track back, or interceptions by opposing midfielders. With the Hiroki Ito transfer and the return of Stanisic from loan, Kompany can play either at left CB. Kim Minjae, a right-footed human, can now play right CB. It just makes sense.
Kompany, a Guardiola disciple, loved a high press and high line at Burnley, and it appears he will love it at Bayern as well. Kompany’s tactics may not have produced results at Burnley. Still, from what we’ve seen thus far from Bayern’s preseason performances, the attacking players were able to successfully impose a high press, making it difficult for Tottenham to make passes into Bayern’s half. An effective high press and high line shrinks the playing field to the opponent’s half. This created opportunities for Kim Minjae to time his run from the back line and cut off forward passes before they could be connected to counterattacks.
The main risk with a high backline is being vulnerable to long lob passes, but Kim also showcased his top-notch speed was more than sufficient to track back and intercept any threatening balls. Throughout Bayern’s preseason, Stanisic and Guerrero have shown that they have bought into Kompany’s tactics. If Kim is pressing up to help the buildup or cut off any passes, Stanisic and Guerrero stayed back to cover against any lob threats. Conversely, last season, Kimmich and Dier both showed lapses in tracking back to cover while Kim was forward. We don’t have to look further than the painful Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid.
At first glance, the goal Vini Jr. scored looks like an error on Kim’s part. But if Kim was up to challenge the incoming pass for Vini Jr., it should be Kimmich’s responsibility to cover the space left by Kim, but he was out of position, standing too close to the right wing.
Lastly, the transfer of DMF Joao Palhiniha should lessen the defensive and midfield burden for Kim and the entire Bayern squad. Palhinha is considered one of the best DMFs in the world. He was the Premier League leader in tackles for the 2022-2023 season while having a passer rating above 83% for the past 10 seasons, according to WhoScored. During Kim’s best season with Napoli (2022-2023), DMF Stanislav Lobotoka served as a safeguard for many of Kim’s vulnerabilities. Lobotoka would take the ball from Kim and spray threatening balls for Napoli’s attackers. Palhinha has a passing ability equal to or better than Lobotoka, along with more proficient goal-scoring, heading, and tackling prowess. Leon Grotezka, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Konrad Laimer were serviceable at defensive midfield for Bayern in 2022-2023, but Palhinha is another level.
At a minimum, there is cause for optimism with a fresh voice and gameplan as manager in Kompany, and a strong group of new players in Palhinha, Ito, Stanisic, and Olise. Bundesliga champions, UCL success, the return of the Korean Monster; it’s all at play for the 2024-2025 season.