After a well-deserved break, “monster defender” Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) returns to the field.
The defender is set to return to action against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 14th round of the 2023-2024 Bundesliga on September 9 at 11:30 p.m. at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.
Kim recently took an unexpected 10-day break. Kim has played 24 games for Munich this season, including 12 Bundesliga regular season matches, 18 matches including four UEFA Champions League matches, and six A-League matches, mostly on a full-time basis, with the exception of the first round of the DFB-Pokal. In his debut season in Munich, he quickly established himself as an integral part of the defense, but the team’s injury-riddled roster didn’t allow him to rest.
Kim was given a much-needed break when he was forced to sit out the UEFA Champions League fifth-leg home game against Copenhagen (Denmark) on March 30 due to a hip bruise he suffered in training, and was given more time to rest when the league’s 13th round match against Union Berlin was postponed due to heavy snowfall in the Munich area on April 2.
Munich is currently second in the league (32 points, 10 wins, 2 draws), closing in on leader Leverkusen (35 points, 11 wins, 2 draws). They also need to keep pace with third-place Stuttgart (30 points, 10 wins, 3 losses).
Frankfurt (18 points, 4 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws) are seventh. Kim Min-jae previously faced Frankfurt in the Champions League round of 16 last season while playing for Napoli. Kim led Napoli to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history, winning the first leg 2-0 and the second leg 3-0. Frankfurt, the defending Europa League (UEL) champions, failed to score a goal in the two games. Kim Min-jae’s defense has been remarkable, neutralizing the likes of Japan international midfielders Daichi Kamada (Lazio) and Randal Kolo Moani (Paris Saint-Germain).
Minjae’s playing time will be hard to manage until the likes of Matthijs Derrikht and Dayo Upamecano return from injury. After the game against Frankfurt, Munich will travel to Manchester United (England) in the Champions League group stage on the 13th. Upon their return, they have a packed league schedule, including a home game against Stuttgart on the 18th and a trip to Wolfsburg on the 21st. 토토사이트
Diricht, who injured his knee, has been back in personal training since late last month and has been accelerating his rehabilitation. According to local media, he has improved enough to increase his rehabilitation time to an hour, including jumping. He has also recently begun training to touch the ball. However, given his injury history this season, the Bavarians are in no rush to make a decision. It is expected to have Diricht ready in time for January, when Kim Min-jae leaves for the Asian Cup.