Why Olise could become one of France's best, according to Clichy

Gaël Clichy believes Michael Olise has the talent to become one of France’s standout players if he delivers at the World Cup. He says this tournament could be the moment Olise fully announces himself on the biggest stage, much like Kylian Mbappé did for France in 2018.

Clichy notes that Olise is already well known through his performances for Bayern Munich, but that this will be his first World Cup and only his 16th appearance for France. He argues that the 23-year-old is still relatively new internationally, despite his obvious quality, and that many fans are only just beginning to appreciate how good he can be.

He says he saw that talent up close at the 2024 Olympics, where he worked with Olise as assistant coach to Thierry Henry with France’s under-23 side. Even then, Clichy felt the tournament might be Olise’s breakthrough moment, but he sees the World Cup as something even bigger. If Olise carries over the form he showed for Bayern, Clichy believes he could quickly be regarded as one of France’s best.

Clichy also highlights Rayan Cherki as another player capable of making a major impact. He describes Cherki as an exceptional talent with creativity in both feet and the ability to stay comfortable on the ball in almost any situation. But he says Cherki has had to mature, especially in terms of his defensive work and overall discipline without possession.

That development, Clichy argues, has been crucial under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He says working with Guardiola can “make you or break you” because the manager demands complete commitment to both attacking and defensive responsibilities. For Cherki, Clichy believes that experience has helped him become a more complete player.

Clichy compares Cherki’s journey to Samir Nasri’s, saying Nasri also had to learn how to harness his talent to succeed at the highest level. But he thinks Cherki may have an even higher ceiling, provided he continues to apply himself in the right way for France.

He also praises Jean-Philippe Mateta, saying he was not surprised by his World Cup selection. Clichy calls Mateta a proper leader and an old-school striker who gives Crystal Palace a strong focal point in attack. He says Mateta’s selection rewards the work he has done, both at club level and for France at the Olympics.

For Clichy, Mateta’s value goes beyond goals. He sees him as an important dressing-room presence and someone whose attitude can lift a team. That, along with the talent of players like Olise and Cherki, gives Clichy confidence that France have the quality and character to go far.