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Dayot Upamecano knows better than most just how difficult it is to deal with Harry Kane. After all, the Bayern Munich defender gets to experience that challenge in training almost every single day.
Speaking at the Ballon d’Or awards (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Upamecano had plenty of praise for his teammate and made it clear that Kane’s quality is something he appreciates firsthand.
“Harry is an extraordinary striker. I train against him every day, and it’s very, very tough. He’s a complete striker. I’m happy for him. I’m impatient to know who will win,” Upamecano said.
That’s quite an endorsement coming from one of Europe’s top center-backs. Upamecano regularly faces elite attackers in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but even he admits that Kane presents a particularly difficult challenge.
It isn’t just about the England captain’s goalscoring ability, either. Kane’s movement, physical presence, link-up play, intelligence, and ability to create opportunities for teammates make him one of the most complete forwards in world football.
For Bayern, having Kane and Upamecano pushing each other in training is an enormous advantage. If Upamecano can regularly survive those training-ground battles, perhaps opposing defenders should be a little concerned about what awaits them on matchday.
Now, both players will be waiting to see whether Kane receives the individual recognition his performances deserve.