The former Crystal Palace winger is tight-lipped, but is letting his feet do the talking ahead of his return to England to face Aston Villa.
When a top young talent joins a top European club, there is always a question mark on how the pressure will be handled. The spotlight shines on the biggest parts of the game, and some players – no matter how skilled – can’t handle perfection.
So there was little concern at the Allianz Arena when Michael Ulis managed to link the two flights in his official opening as a Bayern Munich player in August. Asked if he’s better at creating or scoring goals, the former Crystal Palace man shook his head, smiled softly and said: “It’s … both.” As for the differences between the Premier League and the Bundesliga, he can only say: “I think it could be different, but I don’t know…”
First impressions were not good. Olise seemed to want to be somewhere else in the world at the time. But as Bayern fans quickly discovered, this is a player who would rather prove himself on the pitch than in the press room.
Those who have followed olise’s development over the past few years – from his professional development at Reading, after making a name for himself at youth level at Chelsea and Manchester City, to his emerged as a Premier League star at Crystal Palace – already known. and Olise’s monosyllabic responses to reporters’ questions.
In an infamous interview after the win against West Ham, he was asked to describe his 94th minute winner. Olise replied: “I think Wilf (Zaha) gave me the ball. He shot. He scored.”
However, his calm demeanor didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best young football fans in the world. Chelsea made an effort to sign him last season, while Manchester United were heavily linked this summer before Bayern won the battle for his signature.
It is also worth noting that he was also kicked out of the world as he was born in London to a Nigerian father and a French Algerian mother. But in Olise’s mind, France is the only country he wants to represent – much to the delight of Thierry Henry, who has included the 22-year-old in his squad for this year’s Paris Olympics. year.
“I’ve had goosebumps talking to him about it,” Henry admitted. “He chose to play for France over England – why? Because that was his dream, and if a man has a dream, you can put everything you want into it and it will come true he is.”
France’s hopes of a gold medal at home were dashed in men’s football by Spain, who won 5-3 after extra time in a crucial match at the Parc des Princes. However, Olise was one of the stars of the show, scoring seven points in total and scoring twice.
Henry was proud of the attacking midfielder’s achievements, but not surprised. “This is the beginning,” said the grand sign. “I hope for his opinion. Of course, we don’t want to upset him. But you don’t get players like that very often.
“Its quality is amazing – you’ve never seen anything like it.” Henry was absolutely right.
Olise may not have impressed in his first press conference as a Bayern player, but his time at the Allianz Arena was less than impressive. Coach Vincent Kompany said, “Michel’s start at FC Bayern could not have been better.”
He already has five goals in seven games in all competitions for his new club – only Harry Kane has scored so far this season – while also providing three assists.
So it’s no surprise that Bayern’s board are very pleased with themselves at the moment, as they have landed a strong contender for the signing of the season in the €60m (£50m/ $66m).
In fact, sports director Max Eberle has been quick to compare Ulis to two of the best strikers to ever grace the Allianz Arena.
He expressed his desire: “Michael is a player who can achieve amazing things like the young (Franc) Ribery and the young (Arjen) Robben.
Of course, living with these ads is not easy. But his strength is evident at the international level.
While it would be wrong to read too much into Bayern’s results in a quiet start to the season, Olise was undoubtedly Bayern’s worst player in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Olise’s cross equalized for Bayern, with only a save from Lukas Hradecki to deny the first Bundesliga champions what they deserved.
But in truth, the talent is not in doubt. Indeed, Bayern’s next opponents Aston Villa, who they face in the Champions League on Wednesday, have followed Olise since his youth and for the first time he tried to signed him while he was at Reading, before considering a move for him last year. .
The only doubt about his ability to make it to the top is the fact that he’s an introvert with a worrisome injury history.
Yes, the hamstring problems he’s had over the last two years at the White House are still a concern, but Olise doesn’t seem to be showing any ill effects from his time in the Olympics now.
Furthermore, Bayern are not short of options behind Kane and, as we have seen so far, Kompany is looking to use his squad to keep the players fit and healthy. everyone – a way that can only please Olise.
And when it comes to questions about his personality, it should be noted that Olise is shy in front of the media and has never been in trouble on the field or in the locker room.
Alexandre Lacazette says it’s not “jealous” but “funny” but Kane is the strongest: “You (the press) don’t see Michael outside, but inside he’s a very good person.
Therefore, we are not talking about a loner, a person who lacks self-confidence. The only problem is, in reality, if Olise is to continue to carry the role of man-of-the-match, he will have to continue to do media work. Jamal Musyala was also dragged in front of the cameras after his two goals in the 5-0 rout of Werder Bremen.
However, the company is not worried – and rightly so. All he can think about is that Olise is making this amazing start to his Bayern career by becoming the superstar he has long been threatened with – and like Henry, he is very smart, is doing so.
“Michael should continue like this, but I don’t think he’s a player who suffers from stress. He likes football,” admitted the coach. What if he doesn’t want to be interviewed?!
