Manuel Neuer (38) collaborated with many world-class defenders from Bayern Munich to the German national team. Kim Min-jae (28), who collected tremendous trophies with them but joined the team last summer, was the best player he has ever experienced.
Bayern Munich had a pre-season warm-up match with Tottenham at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday. Tottenham has been touring Asia for a long time from Japan to Korea, but Bayern Munich visited Korea for the first time since its foundation in 1990 and had a historic match.
Neuer joined Bayern Munich in 2011 and has maintained the goal for 11 seasons. He has continued to play as a world-class goalkeeper at an age when he is in his 40s, and led the team with the captain’s armband on his arm again this pre-season.
In the warm-up match with Tottenham, he started in the first half and defended the Bayern Munich goal and led the four-back line, including Kim Min-jae. Son Heung-min rushed to aim at the Bayern Munich net, but he contributed to the scoreless first half with stable and seasoned goalkeeping. Later in the second half, he handed over the captain’s armband to Kim Min-jae and watched his teammates’ performance on the bench.
After the match, Kim continued his interview with Korean and German media in the joint coverage area. From Bayern Munich, which won the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League, to the World Cup, Kim Min-jae was the best among them all.
“I’ve played with many players in my career so far, but I think Kim Min-dae is a very outstanding player among them.”
Kim Min-jae joined the team last season, but he already looked quite close to Neuer. The goalkeeper and the central defender need close communication, but Kim Min-jae and Neuer smiled broadly while talking at the training site, and after the open training, they were seen taking pictures together while signing autographs with fans. When asked about this to Neuer, he replied with a smile, “It happened all the time that I go around with Kim Min-jae. I have always been like that.”
Kim Min-jae played for 55 minutes in a pre-season warm-up match against Tottenham before handing over the baton to Eric Dier. Bayern Munich was quite shaken by Tottenham in the second half due to a completely changed squad and allowed a run. However, the match ended its first pre-season warm-up match in Korea with a 2-1 victory.
Q. There was a scene where you became close to Kim Min-jae during training. What kind of player is Kim Min-jae?
- As usual, we warm up before the start of the game and talk about how we will play today and how we will perform our tactics in today’s game. It’s always been with Kim Min-jae. I’ve always done that. When Kim Min-jae plays, I’m always stable and relieved.
Q. You’ve worked with a lot of world-class players, what kind of player is Kim Min-jae?
- Kim Min-jae is a very aggressive central defender. In particular, he is very strong in one-on-one personal defense. He tends to increase aggressively. He has worked with a lot of players so far, but among them, Kim Min-jae is a very outstanding player. 메이저놀이터
Q. Kompany has been newly appointed. How do you feel after training together? Will I be able to perform well with Kompany this season
- Kompany’s first impression was very good. Players are also preparing new strategies according to the coach’s instructions. They are actively accepting the demand to put pressure on the front from the beginning. The players are also very positive. I think I understand Kompany’s tactical philosophy well. Last season was not a successful season, but this season I want to win as many trophies as possible.