Dayot Upamecano is currently one of FC Bayern’s top performers. The French national team player has been in outstanding form for months and has developed into a true defensive leader. In the 2-0 away win against Atlético Madrid, the 28-year-old once again delivered an impressive performance. For this, he is now receiving special praise from Toni Kroos.
On the podcast “Einfach mal Luppen,” the former German national team player expressed his enthusiasm for the Bayern defender’s development. The 2014 World Cup champion was particularly impressed by Upamecano’s growing presence on the field and his significantly reduced tendency to make mistakes.
In the past, Upamecano had repeatedly been criticized for individual lapses. Especially in important Champions League matches, the Frenchman occasionally made costly mistakes. However, he now seems to have largely overcome these weaknesses.
Kroos: “He’s cut that down drastically.”
“The presence he now exudes—not just the way he plays—is on a whole other level,” Kroos explained on his podcast.
The former Real Madrid star emphasized that Upamecano’s extraordinary potential had been evident for a long time. However, the center back hadn’t always been able to deliver strong performances consistently in the past. “You could always tell he had what it takes, but he often made crucial mistakes or lost focus. He’s drastically cut down on that,” Kroos praised.
The 36-year-old finds the Bayern player’s changed body language particularly impressive. “And he has a completely different presence now. He’s always been a good one-on-one defender, but the aura he projects these days is something else entirely,” explained the former midfielder.
Upamecano is now taking on significantly more responsibility and also shows emotionally how important successful defensive plays are to him. “You can also see how he now celebrates winning the ball and making saves. That wasn’t the case before, and of course, that comes across,” Kroos emphasized.
“He just pushed Julián Álvarez aside.”
Kroos cited the Frenchman’s performance against Atlético Madrid as a particularly impressive example.
Among others, Upamecano was up against Julián Álvarez. The Argentine World Cup champion is one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe, but he could hardly find a way past the Bayern defense.
Kroos was particularly impressed by the ease with which Upamecano won their one-on-one duels. “Take yesterday’s duels with Álvarez, for example: Julián Álvarez is a world-class striker, but Upamecano simply pushed him away with that power and presence and really shut him down,” the former Real Madrid pro raved.
For Kroos, it’s therefore clear that the Bayern defender is currently among the outstanding players at his position. “He’s playing at an incredible level right now,” the 36-year-old made clear.
These comments are a special tribute to Upamecano. After all, Kroos has played alongside numerous world-class defenders during his successful career at Real Madrid and knows the demands of the highest international level inside and out.
For FC Bayern, the Frenchman’s development is of enormous importance. Especially given the numerous injury-related absences, a stable defense is a crucial factor for success.