France: Pierre Ménès Criticizes Michael Olise Despite Assist Under Zinedine Zidane

Olise Struggles to Translate Bayern Form to the National Stage

Michael Olise is facing mounting scrutiny over his performances for the France national team, where his output has failed to match his dominant club form with Bayern Munich.

Despite playing a key role under former manager Didier Deschamps at the FIFA World Cup in the United States and retaining a prominent place in the squad under newly appointed head coach Zinedine Zidane, the winger’s recent displays have drawn public criticism from analysts who expect far more from a player of his caliber.

Shifting Tactical Roles Under Deschamps and Zidane

During last summer’s World Cup, Olise initially featured on the right flank before Deschamps shifted him into a central playmaking role as a number ten to capitalize on his partnership with captain Kylian Mbappé. Olise finished the tournament as France’s leading assist provider, demonstrating his capacity to unlock defenses at the highest international level.

However, Zidane altered those tactical setups during his debut match on the touchline against Turkey, returning Mbappé to the left wing and restoring Olise to his familiar position on the right side of the attack. While Olise contributed a correct performance and delivered the decisive assist for Mbappé’s goal, the tactical shift and overall output left observers wanting more.

Pierre Ménès Leads the Public Criticism

Former Canal+ journalist Pierre Ménès voiced his dissatisfaction with Olise’s display on his YouTube channel, arguing that the attacker’s contributions fell short of what supporters witness week in and week out in the Bundesliga.

“Olise, we are still far with France from the player we see shining with Bayern Munich,” Ménès said regarding the performance against Turkey. “He makes a magnificent shot in the first half and he gives the decisive pass on Mbappé’s goal. But hey… The rest of his match against Turkey is still pretty poor and it lacks responsibility with the ball, it lacks authority in his game.”

Ménès added that he remains convinced the former Crystal Palace standout possesses the technical ability to offer significantly more to Les Bleus than he has shown so far.

Soaring Expectations for an Elite Talent

While Olise’s statistics remain solid, his immense natural talent has raised expectations to a towering level. Observers note that such demanding evaluations come with the territory for elite performers establishing themselves on the international stage.

Monday Fixture Against Belgium Awaits

The spotlight now turns to Monday’s fixture against Belgium, where France will look to build momentum. All eyes will be on Zinedine Zidane’s tactical lineup to see whether Olise retains his spot on the right wing or receives another opportunity to cement his role in the starting eleven.