World Cup scapegoat? France coach defends Bayern star Olise | OneFootball

Didier Deschamps has come to Michael Olise’s defense. The French national team coach refuted the recent criticism of the Bayern star and made it clear that, despite a slump, the 24-year-old is having a strong World Cup.

Ahead of the third-place match against England, Didier Deschamps was asked about Michael Olise’s performance. A French journalist expressed the view that the FC Bayern attacker had recently dropped off significantly after a strong start to the tournament.

The outgoing national team coach, however, refused to accept this assessment.

Deschamps: “That’s a bit too harsh.”

“I think that’s a bit too harsh,” Deschamps explained at the press conference. Referring to the lost semifinal against Spain, the 57-year-old explicitly defended his player.

“He wasn’t at his best in the game against Spain. Just like other players,” the Frenchman emphasized, making it clear that the defeat could not be attributed to Olise alone.

The Bayern Munich player had gotten off to a strong start in the World Cup. Against Senegal and Iraq, Olise set up two goals in each match, and he also shone with two assists in the Round of 16 against Sweden. Since then, however, the attacking player has been waiting for another direct goal contribution.

“He’s going to get even better.”

Photo: IMAGO

For Deschamps, the public assessment of the 24-year-old has been too critical overall. “You haven’t exactly been gentle with him, have you?” the national team coach said to the journalists present.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that Olise is far from having reached his full potential.

“Sometimes it just takes time, and despite everything, he still has room to grow,” Deschamps explained, concluding, “Will he get better? Of course he’ll get even better.”

With these remarks, the French national team coach is once again demonstratively backing the Bayern star right before the match against England—and at the same time sending a clear message to all of the 24-year-old’s critics.