Dayot Upamecano praises Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konate: ‘Incredible start to the season’

Dayot Upamecano praises Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konate: ‘Incredible start to the season’ Real Madrid’s summer signings have been great this time around, with many players transitioning into regular starters under Jose Mourinho. Marc Cucurella, for starters, has taken over as the manager’s preferred option at left-back while Bernardo Silva is slowly establishing himself as one of the more reliable creative midfield options. One of the biggest signings of them all, however, has been Ibrahima Konate who has stamped his authority as a starting centre-back ahead of even Antonio Rudiger . So far this season, the 27-year-old has already played 990 minutes in La Liga with 11 starts out of Real Madrid’s twelve games. In that duration, he has racked up three clean sheets, 63 defensive contributions, 14 tackles, 35 clearances and 33 duels won among other statistics. Bayern Munich star praises Konate Former Real Madrid defensive target and French national team star Dayot Upamecano spoke to the media ahead of France’s games in the ongoing international break recently. A super signing. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) In that press conference, he was asked about the Real Madrid star and how he rated the performance and form of his compatriot in central defence. “Konate is having an incredible start to the season. He’s impressing Real Madrid and I hope he continues like this,”  Upamecano said, as quoted by Defensa Central , showering only words of praise on the player. A stable partnership Central defence is a tricky position, for a player’s statistics are often appreciable only if the partner performs equally as well. After all, they always function in pairs, and both defenders on the field must be on point if it is to reflect on the statistics. A solid defensive duo. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) In that sense, it is vital to recognise that Konate’s appreciation is not only down to his form but also the partnership he has struck with Dean Huijsen. The Frenchman’s directness and physicality have perfectly complemented the Spaniard’s ability on the ball and distribution skills to create one of the world’s most stable defensive pairs. They may not have started strong, but their numbers in recent games have been nothing short of exceptional. Jose Mourinho will only hope Konate can stay fit and consistent until the end of the season. After all, the serious business is yet to begin.