Olise stays on the right at Bayern despite absences, Kompany decides

Michael Olise started the season in fine form with Bayern Munich, instrumental in both goals of the victory in the German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund (2-1) last Saturday. The French international first provided an assist for Nathaniel Brown in the 28th minute, before scoring the break goal himself just before half-time with a precise left-footed strike.

Yet, despite the simultaneous absences of Jamal Musiala, Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry — the three players usually deployed centrally by Vincent Kompany — Olise remained in his position on the right flank. It was Nathaniel Brown, the left-back signed for €55 million this summer, who occupied the supporting role behind Harry Kane in the number 10 position, a role he had already filled several times during the preseason.

Kompany justified this choice unambiguously: “He is really effective between the lines, whether he plays as a full-back or 10. That helped us today, because Gnabry, Karl and Musiala were not available and we needed him in that position. Saibari was not yet completely ready, so it was simply beneficial to be able to count on him. He can play anywhere and goes forward.” The message is clear: Olise is not in the Belgian coach’s plans for midfield.

This configuration raises a question for the French national team, where Olise wore the number 10 at the 2026 World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s leading passer with seven assists. Zinédine Zidane, who will take over the Blues, will have to decide whether to adopt a 4-2-3-1 system to get the best out of a player whose club refuses to move him from the right.

With 20 goals and 23 assists in his first season at Bayern, then 22 goals and 31 assists in the next, Olise has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific creators. The main supplier of balls for Kane, he builds most of his game from the right wing, where he excels at cutting inside. The Super Cup confirms that Kompany intends to keep him in this role, whatever the circumstances.