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【【【【Coach Tuchel: "I don't doubt Kim Min-jae's ability, we are in a healthy competition."】】】】

Coach Thomas Tuchel, who leads Bayern Munich (Germany), stressed that he "does not doubt the ability" of Kim Min-jae, a defender of the South Korean national soccer team whose starting position has recently been threatened.

"Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano have excellent skills," Tuchel said at an official press conference ahead of the 27th round home game of the 2023-2024 Bundesliga against Borussia Dortmund on the 30th. "There are four center backs who are improving their skills through training." He stressed, "No one doubts the skills of Kim Min-jae and Upamecano."

Coach Tuchel's recruitment was largely due to Kim Min-jae. Kim Min-jae was the starting center back at the beginning of the season, but he recently missed the starting lineup. Kim Min-jae missed the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 (3-0) against Lazio on the 5th and the second half of the Bundesliga's 25th round (8-1) against Mainz on the 9th after the end of the Asian Cup. He missed two games in the last three games, including a substitute in the 26th round (5-2 win) against Darmstadt on the 17th.

Eric Dier and Matthijs Delicht are replacing Kim Min-jae as starting center backs, and Kim Min-jae, who has recently weakened his position in the team, has been the subject of transfer rumors.

Coach Tuchel said, "We made changes in the aftermath of Upamecano's injury," adding, "Diary and de Ligt did well." Coach Tuchel explains that Kim Min-jae's decision to go to the bench is not a matter of ability, but that he has no choice but to use the "Diary-de Ligt Combination" instead of the "Kim Min-jae-Upamecano Combination" because of Upamecano's situation.

Tuchel stressed, "We are in a healthy competition. We are now entering an intense period that we all need."

The German soccer magazine Kicker predicted that Kim Min-jae will be replaced instead of the starter ahead of the 27th round match between Munich and Dortmund scheduled for 2:30 a.m. on the 31st in Korean time.