When it comes to the best Asian players currently active in European soccer, many people think of Sun Xing, last season's Premier League Golden Boot, or Lavender, who has performed well three times.
However, as attackers, they have not been top players in the same position this season. In contrast, the Serie A leaders' starting center back Kim has really been an extraordinary performer among all the defenders in Europe's top five leagues.
01. One man doing the job of two in the Premier League? Go to Europe and become a top center back
a. The reason for coming to the Chinese Super League is simple: for 8 times the annual salary
Joining South Korea's best club in the K-League, Jeonbuk Hyundai, at the age of 20, Kim Min-ah made an early name for himself. at the age of 22, he signed a four-year contract with Beijing Guoan and came to the Chinese Super League.
What impressed him was the fact that this new contract pays eight times his annual salary at Jeonbuk Hyundai.
At the end of the same year, Kim Min-ah, who had just celebrated his 23rd birthday, helped South Korea win the East Asian Cup and was himself voted the best defensive player.
Watford from the English Premier League extended an olive branch to him, and he himself said several times in one interview that he wanted to play in Europe. However, Beijing Guoan did not let go of him as he did not meet the requirements of the labor license, and he remained in the Chinese Super League,...
In 2020, Kim Min-ah returned to China to train with the team at the beginning of the year, but then returned to South Korea, citing injuries and family illnesses, and even participated in the national team's world preseason tournament.
In May 2020, when Kim Min-Ja got married, Beijing Guoan FC also sent their blessings as an official.
Almost simultaneously, a video of Kim Min Ah mocking her Chinese teammates was reposted from the tube to domestic social media platforms.
The South Korean center-back was relentless in a TV show saying that Chinese players are so incompetent and lack defensive awareness that he needs to do two jobs on his own at Beijing Guoan.
b. From Turkish Super League to Serie A: Kim Min-ah proves herself in the Champions League
Seeing that he won't be returning to the Chinese Super League, with only six months left on his contract, Beijing Guoan has also decided to sell Kim Min Ah to avoid a man and money gap.
At the time, he was contacted by Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal in the English Premier League, as well as Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio and other teams in Serie A, but Kim Min Ah finally decided to join Fenerbahce.
In Kim Min Ah's words, he turned down Juve's offer out of fear that he wouldn't get a consistent start straight away for a top four (his own words) team.
"Playing is my priority." Kim Min Ah's self-positioning was clear, and after a year of superb experience on the soil, he was hit by Napoli in Serie A. The latter released Coulibaly and waited for Kim Minja.
The South Korean center back didn't disappoint, dominating against Salah in the Champions League group stage and rendering giants like Juve and AC Milan helpless in Serie A.
While Sunsung's performances slipped in the new season, the trio shone on a single line in the Premier League, with Kim Min-ah the defensive backbone of the Champions League and Serie A leaders.
02. single defense covers a lot of ground & suffers slightly against Muani
a. Able to run and confront: characterized by decisive footwork
This Napoli is characterized by the one-two punch and obvious physical superiority of Minjae Kim, Anguissa and Osmeen in the central axis.
Meanwhile, at the wing positions, Kvaratskhelya, Lozano and Di Lorenzo all have good speed and the ability to get up and down frequently. With the ability to open up localized space in the center, their continuous back and forth can yield better results.
Kim Min-ah's defense is characterized by a strong, fast body, and he jumps up in a flash and can many times use his leg length and strength to his advantage.
This time, Mouani took Napoli right-back Rahmani before Gotze passed to Lindsrom, looking to either catch Rahmani in space behind him or be cut off by the decisive Kim Minza.
Let's take a look at this offense and defense round. At that time, the opponent broke the ball and counterattacked, and Kim Min Ah failed to finish the first step up.
However, he then retreated very quickly and stuck well in the ribcage space compared to Ndika.
As a center back, Kim Min Ah is a bit reckless at times. Fortunately, he has great athleticism. This time, chasing long distances and staying close to Ndika's front without giving his opponent much space.
All the way back to the box at high speed, and the final clearance was calmly and cleanly handled without any problems.
b. A bit of a disadvantage against Muani
As you can see from Frankfurt's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 stats, Kim Min-ah contributed a staggering five successful tackles and seven clearances, as well as an interception.
Other than against Muani, all other times Kim Min Ja can be said to have crushed the advantage.
However, Mouani has some power and excellent flexibility, which makes Kim Min Ah a bit uncomfortable. His flexibility is not as strong as his opponent's power can support him while completing quick turning maneuvers, and Kim Min Ah received a yellow card for the foul this time.
In addition, Kim Min Ah seems to be a bit reckless in this robbery. The key for Mouani is a small power disadvantage and better agility, which makes it easy for Kim Min Ah to lose focus and makes him reluctant to fight the French striker.
Fortunately for Muani, he was then ill-prepared and the ball went past his feet and out of his control.
03. Asia's No. 1 center back: able to play the ball at his feet, able to defend the air above his head
a. Passing with both right and left feet
Mina Kim has competed in 14 one-on-one matches in the Champions League knockout rounds, winning all but two of them to Muani (the highest) by 12.
He also finished with 148 touches and 125 successful passes, which was first in the conference. More surprisingly, the center back was successful twice.
As a tall center back at 1.9 meters tall, Kim Min-ah is quite good at getting to the ball. Whether it's a long diagonal pass or a straight ball from mid-range, it's pretty basic.
This time, the right foot of the main player shifts to the right and then finds the front with his left foot after the ball is returned to his feet, bringing instant acceleration (the opponent wins a free kick in front of the goal by committing a foul).
Let's take a look at this transition between offense and defense. Minja Kim intercepts a pass and then looks for Osmeen with a straight shot from the spot, almost creating a one-touch opportunity.
Unfortunately for us, our center forward wasn't greedy and tried to cross to Kvaratskhelya at the back post, only to be destroyed by the opposition.
b. Good headers: air defense is an advantage
As you can see from the statistics at the end of January 2023, the current number one Asian player in terms of value is Son Heung-jin, followed by €35 million.
The 26-year-old center back is expected to reach new heights in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Min-Ja Kim, who can be a bit of a loss on his feet, still has a distinct advantage when battling Muani for high balls.
Not only did he make a number of header clearances in the box, but Kim Min Ja was also able to take the lead on the first point of such long passes.
It was the same in the penalty area, as the opponent's cross came into the center and Kim Min cleared it with a solid header, giving Mouani no chance.
Minja Kim's own defense is wide open, from the center circle to the sidelines and the penalty area.
Though occasionally slightly less agile due to his 1.9 meter height, it's difficult for others to capitalize on it unless Mouani is a nimble and powerful attacker.
Conclusion:
Although Mina Kim has signed a contract with Napoli for 2025, he has a €50 million liquidated damages clause. Both Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the center-back and the summer window does not rule out the possibility of him going to a higher platform.
But until then, Coco Kim's goal is to help Napoli win the Serie A title first and go as far as possible on the Champions League stage.
