Bayern star Olise sets up Man City’s Cherki a day after feud report
Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise have delivered the perfect response to rumours of an international feud by inspiring France to a thrilling 4-1 comeback victory over Belgium.
The Manchester City playmaker and the Bayern Munich winger both came off the bench to turn the Nations League clash on its head at the Stade de France.
A spectacular response on the pitch
Zinedine Zidane handed a senior debut to Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, who was called into action early on to deny a sharp turn and shot from Romelu Lukaku.
Belgium continued to threaten, with Nicolas Raskin heading a cross from Dodi Lukebakio just over the bar as the French defence struggled to settle.
At the other end, France felt they should have been awarded a penalty when the ball struck the arm of Nathan Ngoy inside the area, but the referee dismissed their appeals.
The hosts missed a glorious chance to open the scoring after 33 minutes when Ousmane Dembele burst down the right flank and picked out Esteban Lepaul, who could only loft his effort over from 14 yards out.
They were punished almost immediately when Lukebakio beat the offside trap to reach a long pass from Romeo Lavia and calmly slotted his finish past Restes.
France pushed hard for an equaliser after the interval, with Manu Kone seeing an effort blocked by Lavia before Dembele curled a shot agonizingly wide of the post.
This prompted Zidane to make his decisive double change on the hour mark, introducing both Cherki and Olise to spark the attack.
Belgium’s debutant goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt had to be alert, immediately saving a shot from Olise before producing a brilliant finger-tip stop to deny a curling effort from Cherki.
Desire Doue sparked the comeback with a low, turning effort to equalise in the 77th minute.
Just three minutes later, Olise surged to the byline and set up Cherki to smash home France’s second.
Olise then took centre stage himself, scoring twice in the closing stages—including a stoppage-time strike assisted by Doue—to secure all three points and keep France top of Group A.
The rumoured rift behind the scenes
The dazzling on-pitch chemistry stood in stark contrast to reports that emerged over the weekend.
French publication L’Equipe had claimed that Olise was growing increasingly irritated by Cherki’s behaviour during the international break.
The newspaper suggested that Olise, who favours a calm and understated approach to leadership, was frustrated by Cherki’s witty and erratic behaviour during practice sessions.
It was even reported that Olise had taken issue with Cherki’s pranks during their World Cup campaign.
The reported tension had threatened to overshadow their impressive club form from the previous season.
Olise had enjoyed a spectacular campaign with Bayern Munich, scoring 15 times and providing 21 assists in the Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Cherki proved his worth to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, registering four goals and 12 assists in the Premier League despite being limited to 1,786 minutes of action.
Cherki was quick to rubbish those claims on social media before the match, laughing off the reports as mere fabrications.
Following his starring role on his international debut, the 23-year-old midfielder spoke directly about his relationship with the Bayern star.
Speaking to TF1 after the match, Cherki said:
“Contrary to what some may say, there is a real complicity. Everything that is said in the press concerning all players, you should not listen to”
The Manchester City player went on to praise the incredible atmosphere within the French camp under Zidane.
Speaking to TF1 about the squad’s unity, Cherki said:
“I have rarely known a group that lives so well, from the first player to the last. It’s great, you can feel it on the pitch.”
Cherki also addressed his evolving responsibilities on the pitch, noting that he is being asked to offer more than just occasional moments of individual brilliance.
Speaking to TF1 about his development, Cherki said:
“I’ve learned to play in a new position, and I have to deliver clean and consistent matches,”
Zidane finds his formula amid selection issues
This dramatic victory provides a massive boost for Zidane, who is tasked with rebuilding the national team after a painful end to their 2026 World Cup campaign.
Les Bleus had suffered a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain before losing a high-scoring 6-4 third-place play-off against England.
Prior to the Belgium masterclass, France had secured narrow 1-0 victories over Turkiye and Belgium, alongside a 1-1 draw with Italy where Olise scored the crucial equaliser.
Zidane has had to navigate these fixtures without several key players due to injuries and suspensions.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has not appeared for his country since the World Cup because of a persistent back problem.
Meanwhile, midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery remains unavailable due to a thigh issue.
Furthermore, the suspended pair of Matteo Guendouzi and Dayot Upamecano missed the clash in Paris.
Yet, the depth of France’s attacking talent—which also boasts Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele—suggests Zidane has the tools to build a formidable side if his players remain united.
With Cherki and Olise already showing such devastating cohesion, any talk of a dressing room rift has been firmly put to bed.
Updated 6 October 2026, 07:56.
