dpa
Munich
Bayern Munich defender Min Jae Kim expects to have to fight for his place when he returns from Asian Cup duty.
The South Korea star heads to the tournament from January 12 to February 10 knowing that France’s Dayot Upamecano and the Netherlands Matthijs de Ligt will be the centre backs in his absence. Six Bundesliga games are scheduled during the Asian Cup in Qatar.
"If Upa and Matthijs play well during this time, they will probably be the defensive duo for the time being after I get back,” Kim told t-online.de on Wednesday.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is not just worried about losing Kim. Full back Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) and striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Cameroon) are due at the African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast in January.
It has always been "extremely unfortunate” to have to release players for these competitions in the middle of the season, Tuchel told reporters. Mazraoui has an injured calf so may not travel, but will be out either way.