German soccer legend Matthäus commented on Bayern Munich's performance in their Bundesliga debut for the new season in his column for Sky Sports Germany, and in particular questioned new center back Minjae Kim. According to Mateusz, although Bayern finally started the season with a win, the whole process of the game was not easy, and the problems at the defensive end were especially prominent.
Mateusz began by recalling Bayern's general woes at the start of the season, noting that a number of top teams, including Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, suffered similar problems, which were in part related to post-Euro fatigue and conditioning. However, he expressed dismay at Bayern's choice to sell De Ligt at this point in the season, arguing that the decision has exacerbated the team's instability on the defensive end.
Matthäus emphasized that the departure of De Ligt has left Bayern without what appears to be the best defender in the team, which has sparked widespread questions including from those within the team. He argued that in the current situation, all center backs in the Bayern team need to address their own issues first and work on becoming leaders in the backline. This requires them to not only understand their strengths and weaknesses, but also to be recognized by the entire team.
In response to Minjae Kim's debut performance at Bayern, Matthäus was outspoken about his dissatisfaction. He believes that the way Minjae Kim plays at Bayern cannot be compared to his time at Napoli, as the two teams have very different defensive styles and tactical requirements. Mateusz pointed out that Minjae Kim currently lacks the clear, quick passing ability necessary to play at Bayern, as well as the stability and self-confidence needed at the back.
Matthäus further analyzed that Minjae Kim did not look solid enough when handling the ball, which is far from the level of performance he should be expected to have in the top flight, much less to Bayern's high standards. In addition, he also noted that Min-Ja Kim's tackling ability has declined compared to his time at Napoli, which has affected his defensive efficiency at Bayern to some extent.
Matthäus expressed his concern over Bayern's defensive performance in the new season and questioned the addition and performance of Minjae Kim. He believes that Bayern need to solve the problems at the defensive end as soon as possible to ensure that the team can maintain a stable competitive state in the new season.
