Tired ‘monster defender’ Kim Min-jae (27, Naples) met national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann (59) and smiled brightly.
The Korea Football Association 메이저사이트(KFA) said on its official social media on the 19th (hereinafter Korean time), “TEAM Klinsmann is under inspection! ) I watched the Champions League (UCL) Napoli vs AC Milan match and had time to communicate with Kim Min-jae.” We also posted a picture we took together.
Coach Klinsman boarded a plane to London, England on the 14th. The goal was to check the European faction, the main pillar of the national team. He visited Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the 15th and met captain Son Heung-min in person with assistant coach Andreas Herzog. Although Tottenham lost, Son Heung-min scored the opening goal and tasted goals in two consecutive matches.
The next destination was Scotland. Head coach Klinsman immediately moved to Kilmarnock and watched the match between Celtic and Kilmarnock on the 16th with Oh Hyun-kyu, the youngest member of the national team. Oh Hyeon-gyu came on as a substitute in the second half. In an interview with the local media, director Klinsman praised Oh Hyun-kyu as having a very special talent and encouraged him.
The third European player I met was Kim Min-jae. Coach Klinsmann visited Napoli and AC Milan stadiums on the 19th. Kim Min-jae, who was unable to play due to accumulated warnings, is also known to have watched the game with coach Klinsman and coach Stringara.
According to Italy’s ‘Napoli Magazine’, they visited a 4-star hotel restaurant before the game and had lunch together. The media said, “Kim Min-jae had a luncheon with director Klinsman at ‘Hotel Paradiso’.” In the photo released by the media, Kim Min-jae, coach Klinsman, and coach Stringara are making bright faces against the backdrop of the sea.
The meeting with Kim Min-jae was the most important point in Klinsmann’s tour to four countries in Europe. Right after the A-match match against Uruguay in March, he said, “It’s physically difficult. I’m mentally broken. I’m going to focus only on my current team, not for the time being. This is because he has complained of physical and mental fatigue.
In addition, Kim Min-jae was caught up in rumors of a feud with Son Heung-min and rumors of a faction within the national team. Fortunately, he emphasized that the misunderstanding with Son Heung-min was well resolved through an apology and two statements, and that the factionalism was never true. He also apologized for his erratic behavior and mistakes.
The case has been settled, but Kim Min-jae’s tired mind is clearly in need of care. Fortunately, coach Klinsman was full of confidence. According to a KFA official, he dispelled the concerns around him by saying that there was no problem at all and that he would go to Europe and take care of it himself.
In fact, Kim Min-jae, who met director Klinsman, had a bright expression. Even in the photo released by ‘Naples Magazine’, he was smiling. It is not known exactly what they talked about, but it seems that director Klinsman listened to his concerns.
Meanwhile, director Klinsmann, who finished ‘Kim Min-jae Care’, goes to Germany, his home country. He watches the match between Mainz and Bayern Munich played by Lee Jae-seong on the 22nd, and then watches the match between Freiburg and Schalke 04 with little Jung Woo-young on the spot on the 23rd the next day. Afterwards, he will attend the grand cross conferment ceremony of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and return to Korea around the 27th.