Dayot Upamecano

Image from: freelargeimages.com

Dayotchanculle Oswald Upamecano





Current Club: Red Bull Leipzig.

Previous Clubs: Red Bull Salzburg, Valencienne.

Loan Clubs: N/A.





International: N/A.

Trophies Won: Austrian Bundesliga 2015/16, 2016/17. Austrian Cup 2015/16, 2016/17. European Under-17 Championship 2015.





The 21 year old French defender is extremely highly rated, though he has yet to graduate into the full international team yet from the Under-21s. Despite that, it feels like he has been 'the next big thing' for a long time now.



It is easy to take a quick look at him and be enamoured of him, as he is on first examination everything you could possibly want in a centre-back in the modern game. It is especially useful that, despite being heavily right-footed, he is very comfortable playing on the left side of a back 3 or back 4.



In fact his utility is excellent, he has played right back and defensive midfield, as well as all three centre-back positions, and looked comfortable in each position. It helps that Upamecano is very comfortable on the ball, always looking to play out from the back and try to maintain possession.



Added to that his technique is excellent, he has a very good range of passing and good vision plus he is physically exceptional, being big, strong and fast. However Upamecano still has a fair few rough edges that need polishing out.



He will take a lot of risks on the ball, using his pace and power to take him clear of opponents and drive forward to play a pass. That would be fine if Upamecano's pass selection was better when on the drive forwards, it will often end up that he runs into traffic and plays the wrong ball turning it over with himself caught up field.



Defensively there are times he is caught ball watching and he does not display the best reading of the game, relying instead on his pace to get him out of trouble. That can often lead to Upamecano making rash challenges and giving away needless free kicks for pulling back a forward who has got wrong side of him.



Overall there is a very good defender in there, comfortable on the ball, capable of playing out from the back, physically imposing, fast and very good one-on-one when facing up a player, the problem is that Upamecano needs to learn positioning and concentration. At 21 there is still the time to reach his potential but he needs to work with the right type of manager, the Roy Hodgson kind, who will drill him in positioning until it becomes second nature to be in the way, instead of chasing attackers.





Requested by - m2k32000 & grino75