Bayern defends Olise after wave of criticism over brief interview

Bayern Munich has come out in defense of its star Michael Olise after the player faced sharp criticism over a post-match interview in which he gave one-word answers and showed reluctance to talk at greater length.

"Olise is someone who above all wants to play football, and communication off the pitch is not his strong suit. That may be important for the media, but he should be judged primarily by his conduct on the field. What matters most to us is that he shows his qualities there, and that's also something children and teenagers can more easily identify with," the club's sporting director said at a press conference.

The team's head coach also backed the French international, expressing the view that the attention around such interviews should not be mistaken for a lack of respect or bad manners on the player's part, and adding that no sponsor or journalist has actually complained about the player's behavior.

The criticism was sparked after the 5-0 win over Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, when Olise was named Player of the Match and gave a short interview to a TV channel. Asked about the impressive goal he scored, the Frenchman answered in a reserved, monosyllabic manner, which led the reporters to end the conversation after just a minute. This provoked reactions from several journalists, who described his behavior as a display of disrespect and arrogance.