A major blow announced for the trip to Lyon

A tough blow for Olympique de Marseille before the crucial trip to Lyon. Quentin Merlin, Marseille’s left back, will be out for several weeks due to a right thigh injury. Having returned from the U21 team with this injury, Merlin was unable to take part in the last match against Nice, and his unavailability continues, putting OM in a delicate situation for its next matches.

Concern grows for Merlin

Olympique de Marseille made the bad news official via a medical statement, specifying that a reassessment will be carried out soon to determine more precisely the duration of Merlin’s absence. This loss is all the more important since Merlin, in addition to his defensive role, had established himself as a key element in the tactical balance of the team led by Roberto De Zerbi.

During the match against Nice, De Zerbi had to adapt to this unexpected absence by reorganizing his defensive system. Valentin Rongier was thus started on the right of the defense, while Amir Murillo took Merlin’s place on the left. This composition, although far from ideal, had allowed OM to hold on in defense despite the absence of a key player like Merlin. It is likely that the Italian coach will repeat this strategy for the clash against Lyon, but he will have to find long-term solutions depending on the duration of the injury.

With important weeks ahead for OM, in the league and in European competitions, Merlin’s prolonged absence complicates squad management. Nevertheless, the team will have to adapt quickly to this situation, particularly by preparing for an always perilous trip to the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, where a new reorganization could be necessary to compensate for this lack.

Quentin Merlin’s return will be closely watched, but in the meantime, Roberto De Zerbi will have to do without one of his strong men in this key phase of the season.