A new hierarchy is emerging in FC Bayern’s central defense. Min-jae Kim has apparently edged out Jonathan Tah. Sky expert Didi Hamann now sees the South Korean as a clear starter—and explains why things could get difficult for Tah.
The competitive landscape in FC Bayern’s central defense has changed significantly recently. While Jonathan Tah was long considered a key part of the defense, Min-jae Kim now seems to have the edge. In the most recent Bundesliga derby against Borussia Dortmund, Tah even sat on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.
The lineup decision was discussed at length on the Sky90 talk show. Didi Hamann, in particular, sees this as a clear sign of a shift in the pecking order within Bayern’s defense. The former national team player is convinced that Kim has now overtaken his rival.
“He’s favored Kim over the past few weeks, and Kim has overtaken him,” Hamann explained, referring to the recent decisions regarding the center-back pairing. For the 53-year-old, this development is entirely understandable. After all, the South Korean initially struggled to meet the high expectations at the German record champions following his move from Naples.
“He’s simply the better player right now.”
However, the picture has changed in the meantime. Hamann currently rates Kim ahead of Tah, citing primarily his performances on the field as the reason.
“He’s simply the better player right now; he doesn’t make mistakes, and he’s faster than Tah,” emphasized the Sky expert. The South Korean’s speed, in particular, could be a decisive advantage in the competition for the starting spot.
In addition, Hamann generally considers the 29-year-old to be an exceptionally good defender. Alongside his defensive qualities, he also pointed out his goal-scoring threat on set pieces.
This puts Tah in a difficult situation. While the German national team player will continue to see playing time due to the tight schedule, Hamann believes a different pairing will start in the particularly important matches.
“As long as Kim doesn’t do anything to get himself in trouble, he’s a starter alongside Upamecano in central defense,” the former Bayern pro clarified.
Sammer calls it a “luxury problem”
Hamann received support from Sky commentator Wolff Fuss. He, too, believes Kim is currently in better form. “Right now, Kim is the one in the best form after Upamecano,” Fuss explained. Accordingly, it makes sense that this duo is currently being favored.
Matthias Sammer offered a slightly different assessment. The former Bayern sporting director did not want to commit to a fixed hierarchy among the three center backs. Instead, he emphasized the exceptional quality the Munich team possesses at this position.
For Sammer, the current competitive situation is therefore not a problem, but rather an advantage. FC Bayern can count itself lucky to have three top-class center backs in its squad: Dayot Upamecano, Min-jae Kim, and Jonathan Tah. “Otherwise, they’re happy to have a luxury problem, in my view,” explained the 59-year-old.