Greenwood has been less sparkling in recent weeks.
As in Strasbourg (0-1), five days earlier, OM disappointed against Angers (1-1) at the Vélodrome. Some men who were in good shape at the start of the season are marking time.
It should have been an ideal evening to relaunch and regain confidence, facing the red lantern of Ligue 1, but the players of Olympique de Marseille left the pitch with their heads as low as last Sunday, in Strasbourg, where he had conceded their first defeat of the season (0-1).
«It’s a defeat for us“, admitted captain Leonardo Balerdi after the draw conceded by his team against Angers (1-1) Friday evening at the opening of the 7th day of Ligue 1. For the Marseille public too, he who whistled his team copiously at the blow final whistle, after having already expressed his dissatisfaction during the match with the disappointing performance of Roberto De Zerbi’s men.
A too clumsy OM
Annoyed, too, by the performance of his men, the Marseille coach did not find the solution to beat the SCO. Neal Maupay’s red card, when his team had been in numerical superiority for only four minutes, did not help him. But OM above all paid for their lack of fluidity, their inability to establish rhythm and their technical blunders in a match where certain elements confirmed their decline in form.
«It’s a difficult moment. The episodes are not going our way, some decisive players are not in good shape and did not play their best game. Luis Henrique, Greenwood, Højbjerg… They were a little imprecise in their first gestures» , underlined the Italian at a press conference. The Marseille coach did not choose these three men at random, since they are the players who were undoubtedly the most efficient when everything was going well for OM.
Greenwood and Luis Henrique stall, Højbjerg less influential
Sparkling during the first days of the championship (5 goals and 1 assist during the first three days), Mason Greenwood is clearly marking time. As in Strasbourg, the Englishman made too few differences in one-on-one and, above all, no longer managed to be decisive. Same thing for Luis Henrique, who became messy again on his left side after his surprising start to the season (3 goals and 3 assists). The Brazilian seems to be lacking direction without Quentin Merlin, injured since mid-September. “We miss Merlin and Luis Henrique also misses him» , concedes De Zerbi.
For Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the decline in form is also confirmed. Replaced in midfield after the unsuccessful attempt at defense in Alsace, the Danish international found a position more in line with his profile. But he stammered in his football, broadcasting much less serenity than during his first matches, during which he displayed a boss’ face and brought calm to his team’s play. Not always well placed, clumsy in his interventions – like his mistake which brings the free kick to equalize 1-1 –, and much less influential in the game, the Scandinavian marks time.
The Carboni and Maupay choices inconclusive
Obviously, these three players are not the only ones to have to carry OM’s current bad luck on their shoulders. Yesterday, the changes in the starting lineup did not bring either. For his first start, Valentin Carboni did not weigh on the game. However, the Argentinian was not helped by the expulsion of Maupay after half an hour of play. Preferred to Elye Wahi up front, the attacker will be able to blame himself for having taken a red card so stupidly for two yellow cards collected in three minutes, while his team had just found themselves in numerical superiority after the expulsion of Lilian Raolisoa.
«These results, after a good start, are annoying but we have to be fair and aware that we are building an important OM, there are difficult days but I have confidence in my players. (…) As I accepted the compliments after Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Brest, I accept the criticism» said De Zerbi. The Italian understands that the tide can turn very quickly in the Marseille city. It’s up to him to find new solutions during the international break to revive a team at a standstill and get its key players back on track.
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