Former England manager Fabio Capello has offered a surprising comparison for Bayern Munich's French winger Michael Olise, likening his style of goals to Napoli's Matteo Politano rather than Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero. The comments were made on Italian broadcaster Sky Sport during coverage of Bayern Munich's 5-4 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, a match in which Olise scored. According to a report from the Corriere dello Sport, Capello disagreed with colleagues who saw a resemblance between Olise and Del Piero, stating the Bayern player's goals are more akin to those of the Napoli forward.
Capello elaborated that Politano, operating from the left side, cuts in to shoot, a pattern he sees mirrored in Olise's play. He contrasted this with Del Piero, who famously favored curling efforts from the right. The comparison is notably flattering for Politano, who has scored just five Serie A goals across the last two seasons. Olise, meanwhile, has emerged as a key creative force since his high-profile move from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich last summer, with his technical ability and eye for goal from wide areas earning plaudits.
The 22-year-old Olise's performance at the Parc des Princes, where he netted Bayern's fourth goal, underscored his threat on the biggest stage. His development in Germany is being closely watched, with many considering him a future mainstay for the French national team. Capello's analysis, while perhaps unexpected, highlights the specific, inverted winger profile that Olise embodies, focusing on his direct goal threat from the left flank rather than a more romantic comparison to a classic Italian number ten.
This incident reflects the heightened scrutiny on players during the Champions League knockout stages, where individual performances are dissected by pundits worldwide. For Olise, such comparisons, even unorthodox ones, are a testament to his growing reputation in the game. His continued adaptation at Bayern will be crucial as the German giants seek to overturn their first-leg deficit against PSG in Munich, with Olise's ability to produce Politano-esque moments from the left likely to be a central part of their attacking plans.
