Michael Olise’s recent performances for France have reinforced his status as one of the leading players in world football, according to Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.
However, the Belgian rejected the suggestion that he should receive credit for the winger’s development, saying Olise’s ability and mentality would have ensured his success regardless of the coaching he received.
Asked by Sky Sport Germany about his influence on the 2026 Ballon d’Or candidate, Kompany said: “I believe a player with Michael Olise’s talent will always succeed. He will always be among the best players.
“It is not only about his talent, but also his mentality and his attention to detail.”
Kompany said Olise possesses an unusual ability to identify possibilities that other players may miss, and that quality is visible even during training sessions.
“He always seems to have the vision to see what others might not see, and that applies even in training,” he said. “That is why this young man has become a truly outstanding player in world football.”
The Bayern Munich manager also highlighted the importance of ensuring elite players retain their desire to improve, particularly after they move into surroundings where praise is not guaranteed at all times.
“The most important thing for a coach when working with players like this and I say this not only from my experience as a coach, but also as a team-mate of players of this type is that they remain hungry,” Kompany said.
He explained that Bayern Munich’s demanding environment requires players to maintain high standards in training and matches.
“At Bayern Munich, you receive praise for what you deliver, for the way you work in training and for what you do and produce in a match,” he added.
“If that is missing in one of the matches, we immediately begin discussing how to continue with the next steps. That is the role we play.”
Kompany insisted, though, that a coach cannot create a world-class player from nothing.
“But it is not about us turning a player into a world-class player. That is impossible,” he said. “He already has that inside him.”
Olise is among the contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the award due to be presented at a ceremony in London on 26 October this month.
