At Bayern, Matthijs de Ligt was planned as the new defense boss.
But in the first games Dayot Upamecano has this status.
For certain reasons.
Munich – When FC Bayern signed Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus Turin a few weeks ago, the astonishment was great.
A supposed world star who moves to Säbener Straße - or at least one of the most talented central defenders in Europe who found his way to Munich.
The Dutchman was quickly identified as the dream player by coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The coach missed a leader in his defense, someone who leads the way and also radiates this mentality.
The existing central defenders were not expected to do this.
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Now the first, albeit few competitive games in the still young season have been completed.
So far, the supposed defense boss is not de Ligt, but one of the French trio: Dayot Upamecano!
The 23-year-old has impressed in all of his appearances so far and is currently becoming the undisputed regular player.
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"The team also has a lot to do with it, we're ready," said Upamecano after the game against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday evening, where Bayern won 2-0 and therefore didn't concede a goal, in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena.
He then revealed the secret of his performance explosion: "I worked a lot with an athletic trainer during the summer break," said the central defender: "I feel better than last season."
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Upamecano is currently seeded alongside the other Frenchman, Lucas Hernandez.
Benjamin Pavard is also playing at a completely different level as a right-back than last season.
The French trio performs strongly.
The victims are de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
"We have a lot of competition, but that's better for us," Upamecano continues.
At the side of Hernandez he currently feels comfortable.
Challenges are not to be expected from the rather reserved defender - and they will not come either: "I just want to play and continue now."
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De Ligt also has to recognize how important fitness is for a defender in the Nagelsmann system.
As a top new signing with great expectations, the central defender, who recently turned 23, still has a lot of catching up to do in this regard.
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On Sunday against Wolfsburg, de Ligt sat on the bench for 90 minutes and then frustratedly trudged through the mixed zone in the arena.
Nagelsmann said from the start that he needed a little more time.
"He didn't play that many minutes last season and I heard that it's not easy to stay fit in Italy," said the FCB coach recently: "We have to train hard with him."
De Ligt should be at 100 percent at the latest when the English Weeks start at FC Bayern in September.
But then Nagelsmann may have a problem, because in the current condition, neither Upamecano nor Hernandez belong on the bench.
But who knows, maybe the athletic trainer will work wonders for de Ligt - it worked impressively for Upamecano.
(smk) Florian Schimak reported from the Allianz Arena