Upamecano’s Quiet Confidence: Bayern, Future Plans, and a Coach Who Changed His Game

Upamecano on Bayern, the World Cup, and a Future in Your Hands

A few months before the World Cup, talk within the French squad shifts to players who have not yet fixed their destinations, led by Dayot Upamecano, who speaks with confidence about his situation at Bayern Munich.

In an interview with L'Équipe, Upamecano outlines his view of the future and explains how Vincent Kompany's coaching has sharpened his development, making him more mature and responsible on the pitch.

Asked about Didier Deschamps’ hint that he would clarify players’ futures before the World Cup, Upamecano says: "I hope so, and my agent is taking care of it. We’ll make the right decision, I have good advice, I’m focused on this season and my goals with the club and the national team. I’m not thinking about the future."

Regarding the possibility of remaining at Bayern, he adds: "I’ve always said I feel comfortable at Bayern. I have a great coach, and I get along well with my teammates."

On the Paris Saint‑Germain fans who would love to see him in their shirt after a strong display against the French club in the Champions League, he is calm: "I’m calm about that (smiles). I have a contract with Bayern, I have goals, and I’m very grateful for any interest from clubs."

He then reflects on Kompany’s impact: "He really helped me with my positioning, posture, and how to deal with long balls. We started from day one with very precise body positions. I think I did well against PSG; we do a lot of video analysis, some sessions lasting 30 to 40 minutes. We’ve become a team with real bite."

Before a clash with PSG, Kompany pressed him with specific instructions: "I didn’t start from scratch. I study PSG a lot and we know their strengths and their high press. (Marquinhos) and their forwards press high; the coach told us not to fear, to chase them. If necessary, even press the goalkeeper."

When asked about differences between playing as a right-sided center-back for Bayern and as a left-sided center-back for France: "If tomorrow the coach says, Dayot, you’ll play as a defensive midfielder, I’ll play there. If he puts me at right-back, I’ll play there too. I’ll give my all. The passing angles differ, but defensively it’s the same."

As for his playing style, Upamecano explains: "I like to create with the ball and break lines. I picked that up at Salzburg with Rangnick. It’s a risky approach, but when it works everyone says, 'Beautiful,' and when it doesn’t, critics say we took a risk. I’ve always loved risk; as a defender, that responsibility falls on me too."

He denies developing his aerial game as a weapon alone: "It’s a natural gift. My headers have always been good. I was a forward as a kid, tall with braids, and I played all positions. When I joined Valenciennes in 2013, the sporting director asked me my position and I answered, ‘All positions.’ That’s why they signed me; I was seen as more eager than others."

Upamecano credits Rangnick, Nagelsmann, and Kompany for his growth: "All of them played a part in my success. I arrived in Germany very young, and Rangnick gave me the confidence I needed to prove myself abroad."

He adds that Nagelsmann gave him freedom to play from the back and manage the game, and Kompany sometimes pulls him aside to show video clips highlighting areas for improvement: "Whether it’s positionally or in reading the game, I’ve grown a lot."

Today he feels more mature on the field: "I’m a central defender, so I must talk more. My past lapses in focus are behind me, and I feel in control of my emotions game after game. Sometimes there are challenges not worth taking—why dive in for a card? I try to manage myself."

Responding to his duels, he states: "Of course, I feel much stronger. When Kompany arrived, many things changed; he taught us better ways to defend. When you see a striker like Kane drop back at minute 87, you think, it’s like scoring a goal yourself. I love duels—the one-on-one battles are what I live for."

He ends with a final reflection: "I would never turn down a challenge in my life, whether against a strong rival or in training. A teammate who loves to test me will say, ‘Let’s see if you beat me ten times.’ When I show him I won’t be beaten, he starts to back off—but I’m just warming up. No jokes, I really enjoy the duels."

Punchline time: If defending were a dating app, Dayot would have a 100% block rate. And if football were a board game, he’d roll the dice and still come up with a clean sheet.