Michael Olise was the standout player on the field during FC Bayern’s 5-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt. Two goals and an assist underscored the Frenchman’s stellar performance. What was interesting wasn’t just how Olise played, but also where.
After Jamal Musiala was substituted in the second half, Olise increasingly operated in the center in the number 10 position. Lennart Karl moved to the right wing after coming on as a substitute. However, the two attacking players repeatedly swapped positions.
After the game, Vincent Kompany was asked at the press conference whether Olise might play more often as a number 10 in the future. The Bayern coach made it clear that he doesn’t want to limit his star attacker to a fixed position anyway.
“Michael has freedom on the field, whether he’s playing as a number 10 or on the right wing. When he dribbles from the right, that’s an advantage. When he cuts into the middle, that’s an advantage. He switched positions with Lenny quite often. Both are flexible. My only goal is to attack the goal. I know where the guys need freedom and where they need a little discipline. The most important thing is to pose a threat.”
Olise is given a lot of freedom
Kompany’s comments show that Olise’s traditional position plays only a secondary role. The Frenchman is expected to move flexibly in the final third and occupy the spaces where he can best showcase his qualities.
Olise usually starts on the right wing. From there, the left-footed player can cut inside, take a shot himself, or set up his teammates. Against Bodø/Glimt, however, it became clear that he can also pose a tremendous threat from a more central position.
His goal to make it 4-0 was the best example of this. After Musiala was substituted, Olise played in a more central role and scored one of the most beautiful goals of the evening with a spectacular long-range shot.
The fact that Karl can also switch flexibly between the right wing and the center opens up additional tactical options for Kompany. The Bayern coach places great emphasis on versatile attacking patterns anyway.
Is Bayern adopting the French model?
The number 10 position is particularly interesting at FC Bayern. Musiala is generally the first choice there, but after his extended break, he’s still finding his way back to his usual rhythm. Against Bodø/Glimt, the 23-year-old made his return to the starting lineup and immediately scored the 1-0 goal. In addition, Bayern has another option in new signing Ismael Saibari.
Olise’s performance now shows Kompany another possibility. The Frenchman doesn’t need to be permanently moved from the right wing to the center. However, thanks to the freedom he’s given, he can take on the number 10 role time and again during a match. He already shone in the number 10 position for France at the 2026 World Cup, racking up seven assists.
With his game intelligence, technical skill, and finishing ability, Olise is already ideally suited for this role. Against Norway, in addition to his two goals and one assist, he also recorded seven key passes and was involved in numerous dangerous Bayern attacks.
Kompany’s comments did not signal a permanent shift to the number 10 position. Rather, the Bayern coach seems to want exactly the opposite: Olise should remain unpredictable and be able to move wherever he can cause the most damage to the opponent.
In any case, after his stellar performance against Bodø/Glimt, Kompany likely gained further proof of just how valuable this freedom can be for Olise and Bayern’s style of play.