Why Vincent Kompany is putting all his faith in Dayot Upamecano this season

Bayern Munich’s impressive 4-0 win over Stuttgart on Saturday was perhaps the most apparent vindication of Vincent Kompany’s most daring decision in the summer transfer window. No, it wasn’t the dizzying dribbles of Michael Olise that constantly tormented the Stuttgart defence for the best part of 70 minutes. Nor was it the belated arrival of €51 million signing Joao Palhinha, when he was brought on to replace the injured Aleksandar Pavlovic just eight minutes into the game. Instead, it was one player that Kompany stuck his neck out to keep at the club rather than sell prior to the start of the season. 

To no great surprise, that player was none other than Dayot Upamecano, to whose mast Kompany nailed his colours rather emphatically in pre-season, when Bayern opted to sell Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United and keep his French counterpart to partner alongside Kim Min-Jae. With little stock to his name as a manager upon arrival in Munich, aside from being a world class central defender in his playing days, Kompany’s fate was quickly sealed: his time at Bayern would either succeed or fail based on this bold defensive decision. And, fortunately for the young tactician, it’s a move that seems to be paying off. 

Although Upamecano has had a few hiccups this season, he’s also proven to be a necessary cog in Kompany’s well-oiled machine. And, alongside Kim, has formed a formidable defensive partnership that is at the heart of Bayern’s attacking, counter-pressing style of play. It’s bold. It’s aggressive. And much of it comes directly from the speed and tenacity shown from both defenders in each game. When asked about his partnership with his South Korean team-mate ahead of this week’s clash with Barcelona, Upamecano showcased that inherent bravado. “It works very well with Kim, he also has self-confidence,” noted the France international. “He's received a lot of criticism - like me - but that's football. Chin up and give it your all." And to be fair to the 25-year-old talent, it seems to be working.