Zidane backs Michael Olise’s quiet personality ahead of Belgium clash

Zinedine Zidane has defended Michael Olise’s reserved character away from football, saying the Bayern Munich winger shows no hesitation once he steps on to the pitch.

Speaking at a news conference before France’s Nations League meeting with Belgium at the Stade de France on Monday, Zidane said Olise’s reluctance to engage with the media should not be viewed negatively.

“He is a little reserved and shy away from the pitch, but that is not a problem,” Zidane said. “Inside the stadium, he is not shy at all. He is a natural leader through the way he plays.”

The France manager added: “He shows all his talent with the ball. He established himself here some time ago and is producing an excellent level for his club.”

Olise’s limited public presence is well known. The player rarely speaks publicly and has avoided making more media appearances than necessary.

In an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe, Olise explained that he would rather allow his football to speak for him. He also said he had never enjoyed being in the spotlight.

His familiar goal celebration, with one finger placed to his lips and another held to his ear, has been interpreted as a message that he does not listen to criticism and prefers to remain silent.

One of his earliest widely recognised moments came during his time at Crystal Palace. After scoring the winning goal against West Ham, Olise gave an extremely brief interview, summarising the goal by saying that a team-mate had passed him the ball, before he shot and scored.

The issue returned to the spotlight several weeks ago when Olise scored twice and created another goal in Bayern Munich’s 5-0 Champions League victory over Bodo/Glimt.

Asked about his performance afterwards, he gave short answers that some interpreted as disrespectful.

“I don’t know. I shoot, and the ball goes in or it doesn’t,” Olise said. “I’m not the only one who scores goals.”

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany and sporting director Max Eberl subsequently defended the player.

Eberl said young people on TikTok and other social media platforms particularly appreciate Olise “because he behaves naturally”.

Zidane’s comments offered further support for the 22-year-old’s approach, drawing a clear distinction between his quiet manner in public and the confidence he displays during matches.