Balerdi, the weight of the armband and the Vélodrome

Much more solid and serene, Leonardo Balerdi played 42 matches out of 52 in all competitions last season, a radical change in status by making him one of the leaders of the squad. With the sidelining of Chancel Mbemba, the former Dortmund logically regained the captain's armband during the first day in Brest. With the key around his arm, the Argentinian had an almost perfect match, in addition to the 5-1 away success, he won 100% of his duels. A meeting that augured only good things and yet…

An armband that fits him badly

Being captain is generally a source of motivation for a player but sometimes, the armband can be a burden adding extra pressure on its wearer. After the success at Francis-Le Blé, the one we nicknamed The Skinnyhad difficulty confirming. Worse, he even had a series of average encounters and disappointments. Slightly injured, he missed two matches with the Marseille club, against Toulouse and Nice before making his return against Lyon for Olympico. And what a failed comeback…in five minutes, he achieved the feat of taking two yellow cards leaving his club at 10 against 11. However, with the suspension lifted, he found his place as if nothing had happened and the role of captain. A role which above all seems to put bad pressure on the Argentinian who falls back into his faults. Less serene on the restart and less biting in the duels, we find the Balerdi of his debut at OM. Latest example, he completely missed his match against PSG, scoring a gag goal against his camp.

Expected against Nantes, the native of Villa Mercedes did not reassure, dropped in defense and not helped by his sidekick Kondogbia, the ineffectiveness of the canaries in the last meters allowed his team to win anyway.

Balerdi is not helped

If OM turned their entire squad upside down during the last transfer window, certain players like the Argentinian international have retained the favors of management and those of the new coach. The Marseillais strengthened themselves in the center but left the keys to the player who arrived in the summer of 2020. If his association with rookie Derek Cornellius seemed to be bearing fruit, the pair in defense has evolved a lot. As proof, since the start of the season, in ten matches, OM have not played more than two in a row with the same central hinge. Alternating between Cornellius, Brassier and Kondogbia.

“When we play as a pair, we have several options, Brassier feels better, Cornelius, they could have played, but Kondogbia can have this notion of controlling the game. All the defenders must contribute to us, because the game starts from them. Brassier is getting back to his level, he had physical problems and he needs to acclimatize, he was the starter at the start of the season. The defender must command the game, control the ball, I don’t want to wait and play on the counterattack.” explained De Zerbi at a press conference before facing Auxerre. In any case, playing with a Kondogbia not in his position and losing momentum at his side and never finding the same pair does not help the player trained at Boca Junior who lacks direction.

Like OM, Balerdi ill at the Vélodrome

“We need to have more results, more personality, more courage, more determination at the Vélodrome” observed the Marseille coach after the success in Nantes. If Marseille is second in Ligue 1 with 20 points, in their den, they have only taken five points out of twelve possible. Faced with an Auxerre team in full swing which has nothing to lose, the Phocaeans will have to show much more serenity. We talked about the pressure of the armband, but also that of playing in front of a packed stadium. For OM's only victory at home this season against Nice (2-0), Balerdi did not play a single minute. Coincidence? In any case for his last match at the Vélodrome, Balerdi completely missed out, against PSG. Against Auxerre, Roberto De Zerbi should, barring any surprises, return the Balerdi-Kodogbia duo to the center with the captain's armband for the Albiceleste player.

ALSO SEE – Ligue 1: Adrien Rabiot and the Marseillais are preparing to face AJ Auxerre this Friday evening (8:45 p.m.)