Bayern Munich’s center-back pairing is putting in incredible work.
Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano are tasked with enormous responsibilities in head coach Vincent Kompany’s high-pressing system — which sends players forward and can leave them, along with a dropping midfielder like Joshua Kimmich, with large tracts of green to cover at the blink of an eye. Any time the Bavarians lose possession — and Bayern has adventurous dribblers up front who are not shy to try the risky maneuver — Upamecano and Kim have to know a long ball could be coming over the top.
And any mistake, even a single one in stoppage time after 90 immaculate minutes, could prove costly.
“I’ve already said at the start of the season that it wasn’t easy at all to defend that high with huge spaces behind them,” Kimmich noted after Bayern’s 1-0 Champions League win over SL Benfica (as captured by kicker, via @iMiaSanMia). “Of course we always try to help [them], but it’s great that both are extremely quick and are very strong in duels. Both make very smart decisions in their duels with the opposing players. That helps us a lot.
“I’ve always seen Min-jae as a monster in challenges, but he’s also developed a lot with the ball. You can see that he understands the coach’s ideas and wants to implement them. Phonzy [left-back Alphonso Davies] is also always in a good position and offers them a passing option, which helps both center-backs in the build-up.”
Kim returned Kimmich’s praise.
“Joshi is a good friend who always encourages me. It makes me happy when he calls me the defensive monster. I have confidence and feel totally at home in Munich. But there’s more to come — I have not yet reached the level I had in Napoli,” Kim said (again via @iMiaSanMia).
It sounds like this Bayern engine is humming right along — and it’s down to the exceptional work of the guys who have to cover it all at the back.
Looking for a discussion on Bayern Munich’s post-Harry Kane plans and why rotation at wing could hold the kept to the team’s season? Then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
