According to kicker, Dayot Upamecano is the best central defender in the Bundesliga. Together with Jonathan Tah, he forms Bayern’s new dream defensive duo
FC Bayern are once again proving their defensive quality. In the latest kicker ranking of German soccer for the first half of the season, Dayot Upamecano, a player who has been the subject of repeated criticism in recent years, leads the field. But now the Frenchman has arrived where many have long wanted to see him: at the top of the Bundesliga’s central defenders
Upamecano in top form – finally playing consistently at elite level
Upamecano is playing a first half of the season that is emblematic of his maturing process. The slip-ups that used to accompany him regularly have become the exception. Instead, the 27-year-old is impressing with consistent tackling, excellent anticipation and a significantly improved opening. He was particularly reliable at international level – above all in the 2:1 against Paris Saint-Germain, when he led the Bayern defence and was considered the best player on the pitch. It is only logical that he is ranked first in the „international class“ in the kicker ranking
Remarkably, Upamecano is once again at the top – three years after his last top ranking. The difference this time: his performances appear more sustainable, more stable and less prone to mistakes. Exactly what FC Bayern has long been looking for in this position
Bayern duo dominate the rankings – Kim also takes a clear step forward
Alongside Upamecano, Jonathan Tah is another Bayern player at the top of the table. The summer signing is in third place and confirms in his first six months at the record champions why those responsible have placed their faith in him. The 29-year-old is composed, physically present and with a high level of passing accuracy, he usually performs confidently – even in games in which the team as a whole was weak
Minjae Kim also appears in the rankings. The South Korean may „only“ be classed as a national player, but his development is nevertheless remarkable. Under Vincent Kompany, he seems to be much more comfortable in his role as a rotational player than the constant stress of pre-season. When Kim plays, he is stable, focused and makes far fewer mistakes – an important factor in the depth of Bayern’s defence
The fact that Nico Schlotterbeck, a Dortmund player, appears between the Bayern defenders underlines the quality of the competition. Nevertheless, the ranking shows one thing above all: FC Bayern’s central defence is once again a real showpiece. Upamecano as the leader of the defence, Tah as an anchor of stability and Kim as a reliable option – defensively, Munich go into the second half of the season with a foundation that will hold up at the highest level.
