🚨Michael Olise on his altercation with Kristoffer Askildsen during Vikings’ 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich: “For me, there is a difference between being aggressive in football and trying to bully someone because you believe you’re playing on your own turf. I wasn’t going to stand there smiling while someone tried to intimidate me. I respect every opponent, but respect has to go both ways. I had just received a yellow card after dragging a player, and when the ball went out, I returned it so the game could continue. Somehow, they became angry, and Askildsen came towards me. He tried to push me twice. Twice, I didn’t respond. I just looked at him because I wasn’t interested in turning a football match into a wrestling contest. Then I told him, ‘When this game restarts, you won’t be getting anywhere near me. So if you want to come close, do it now.’ He came back and said, ‘Who do you think you are? You’re on Vikings turf. You can’t do anything here.’ I looked at him and smiled. Honestly, I found the whole situation ridiculous. I wasn’t going to be intimidated by the atmosphere or by somebody trying to prove how tough he was. But then the referee showed me a second yellow card, and suddenly I’m walking off the pitch. That’s football. You can feel you’re right in a situation, but you still have to understand that your reaction can cost your team. I should have been smarter. I won’t pretend the red card was good for Bayern, because it wasn’t. My teammates had to finish the game without me, and that’s something I have to take responsibility for. But let’s not confuse my dismissal with the quality of the football we played. Vikings can celebrate the 3-3 draw tonight, and they’re entitled to enjoy it. But a draw doesn’t suddenly make you the better team. From what I saw, we had opportunities to win that game, and we didn’t take them. I respect their players, their supporters and the atmosphere they created. I’m not here to disrespect anybody. But football is about more than one result, and we all know how difficult it is to progress in European competition. They can celebrate the point tonight, but we know what our ambitions are. Bayern Munich don’t travel to matches just to collect draws. For me, the biggest lesson is that I have to control my emotions better. I can talk, I can compete, and I can stand up for myself, but I cannot allow an opponent to pull me into a situation that leaves my team a man down. Askildsen wanted a reaction, and unfortunately, the referee ended up punishing me for mine. Next time, I’ll let my football do the talking. Because the best response isn’t arguing with someone for five minutes. It’s making sure that when the game restarts, he has to chase you for the next 90.”