Michael Olise: 'I see myself as a creative, not an artist'

Michael Olise delivered a man-of-the-match performance for France in their World Cup opener against Senegal, following his hat-trick against Northern Ireland in the final warm-up. The 24-year-old gave an interview to L’Équipe shortly before France’s flight to the US, breaking his studied silence. Olise’s creativity has made him a walking meme machine, from clips of his exploits for FC Bayern to his refusal to join team celebrations or even smile. In the interview, Olise confirmed his preference for letting his football do the talking. He described his pre-match routine, including juggling the ball and passing it against advertising hoardings to feel the pitch. “I think I just like taking the ball and feeling it before really beginning to play. Yes, it’s important for me to feel the ball in my hand or at my feet,” he said. When asked if football can be art, Olise drew a distinction between the two. “Yes, I think football can be art. But I just consider myself as someone creative. I don’t see myself as an artist,” he stated. He added, “Yes, I love it when football is beautiful. I think football is a fantastic sport and so it should be fantastic visually too.” Olise’s ability to play with his head up has been widely praised this season, during which he scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists for Bayern. He pushed back on the idea that this is a new addition to his game. “That’s your opinion and I respect it, but it isn’t mine. I think that I have always played like that,” he said. “It comes naturally to me and I don’t think that has changed. I gave lots of assists at Crystal Palace.”

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The creative midfielder traced his approach back to his childhood, playing football in the playground near his home. He credited this environment for developing his free, expressive style. “I think it comes from there. It’s a different type of football but it’s a way to learn. Football in that setting is just freedom,” Olise explained. “I just took pleasure in playing football. I loved it, basically.” Olise acknowledged the structured side of professional football, noting that tactical considerations limit the freedom he values. He emphasized the balance between creativity and control. “To an extent. But it depends on things like whether you’re in control of the match. I think that football is also about control,” he said. “Each coach has his own philosophy and then it’s about imposing your style on the match.” When asked about his preferred position, Olise said, “I think it’s as a number 10. It’s a role that is a little freer. I grew up playing at number 10 so for me it comes a little more naturally.” He is currently playing on the wing but believes the number 10 role suits him best. France’s second-half turnaround against Senegal began when Olise was moved from the wing to the number 10 position, where he linked up brilliantly with Kylian Mbappé. Olise responded humbly to Mbappé’s praise, calling him “someone you play with, whom you respect and who has already achieved so much in football.” “It’s very nice to hear that, especially from Kylian,” Olise said. “For the moment I’d say that I’m a player for today. If I keep working hard and keep my feet on the ground, then I hope to become a player of the future,” he added.