France boss Didier Deschamps wants to gradually increase Michael Olise’s importance to the team

It is a little difficult to fathom that Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise was still playing with France’s U-23 team in the Olympics in August 2024. In mere months of that tournament, he not only received his first call up to the senior team or just become a regular starter but heplayed a crucial role in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Nations League, delivering a goal and assist in France’s comeback victory over Croatia to bring them to the semifinals.

Now, just days before competing in those Nations League semifinals, Didier Deschamps talked to Sport Bild about Olise’s impressive improvement but stressed that every step forward should be carefully measured.

“I have a lot of respect for the club Michael Olise was previously at (Crystal Palace). But his move to Bayern Munich a year ago has done him a lot of good,” Deschamps explained in comments ahead of Thursday’s semifinal, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “It was a step up for him to now be at a club that always wants to win the Champions League. He has made big steps forward in Munich. But of course, he also has room to improve, as we saw with the national team. I compare his situation, for example, to that of Antoine Griezmann. He didn’t find his influence and value for the national team overnight either; you have to give young players time.”

Olise started for France in a 3-5 defeat to Spain on Thursday; as a result, he and Les Bleus will face Germany in a third place match on Sunday.

Time is something Olise naturally has on his side, at just 23 years of age. But we have seen how quickly he became important to Bayern. If he can deliver the kind of regular match winning performances he did in a Bayern shirt for France, he might fast track that development from youngster to key player in no time…again.