Why ‘unique’ Crystal Palace star Michael Olise holds no fear over Manchester City challenge

The phrase “men against boys” is often used when describing Manchester City’s matches, but it won’t be one that worries Michael Olise should he feature for Crystal Palace tonight. It may even bring back fond memories.

“He was 14 at the time and came to play with my seven-a-side team,” says Sean Conlon.

“Against semi-pro adults, he was the best player on the pitch. He was that good.”

Conlon was scouting for QPR when he first came across Olise, a seven-year-old playing for his local side Hayes while also training with Arsenal.

Olise was coached for two years by Conlon, focusing on technical attributes to go alongside his natural athleticism, as he signed for Chelsea and his reputation continued to grow.

“He’s always been considered one of the top players in the country at his age group," Conlon says.

His young career suffered its first real setback when he left Chelsea at 14, before he spent a brief period training with City before eventually joining Reading’s academy.

“When he didn’t go straight through the Chelsea youth teams, he developed more resilience,” Conlon says. “It helped him not take anything for granted.”

It was at Reading that Olise made his mark at senior level, winning the EFL Young Player of the Season award in his final campaign at the club before he moved to Crystal Palace.

First watching on as sporting director and then taking charge as manager, Mark Bowen quickly became familiar with Olise’s self-confidence.

“In the last 20 years I’ve had working with young players, I found him to be quite unique,” Bowen says.

“The first thing that stuck in my mind was the arrogance that he had and I mean that in a nice way.

“In the training sessions, he would literally stand on the ball and invite the defenders over.