Currently looking for a new challenge, Jocelyn Gourvennec is closely following the start of Ligue 1. A former OM player (1998-1999 season), the 52-year-old coach has not missed a thing from the first steps of the Marseille club under the orders of Roberto De Zerbi. Winners of Nice on Saturday evening at the Vélodrome (2-0), the Marseillais are still undefeated after four matches and the recruits have scored points.
“If we go back a year, OM had just lost the three most creative players (Ünder, Payet, Sanchez) and the recruitment had not been up to the level of a recruitment from Marseille,” observed Jocelyn Gourvennec on the Stephen Brunch show on RMC this Sunday. “A year ago, we had a fairly uncreative team. There was Harit but at the end of the season you realize that you are not well ranked, because your recruitment was not up to par and your team was not very surprising.”
“I think they are better armed”
After another hectic summer marked by numerous movements, OM has “a team that is taking shape”, according to the former Nantes coach. “Today it’s different. Greenwood is having a good start to the season. Maupay will bring his grinta. Wahi remains a talented player, like Carboni. They have modified their squad with different game plans. I think they are better equipped this year.”
What are the arguments to compete with PSG for the title? “We’ll see at the end of October when they play them.” The absence of the European Cup, synonymous with a lighter schedule, is necessarily a major advantage for the Phocéens, under certain conditions. “De Zerbi cleaned house very quickly. The players who play less, you have to keep in touch with them. Managing players who play a lot is complicated. The atmosphere in a locker room is created by those who don’t play. You have to show them attention, interest.”
“When you played in Marseille, it’s a club apart,” he recalls. “We always keep something different. The matches at the Vélodrome, if the team is doing well, it makes noise and puts pressure on the opponent. In Marseille, you need players who make the difference.” For the moment, the plan is working wonderfully.
- RMC Sport
