Karim Benani, journalist for the L'Équipe channel, recently analyzed the start of the season for Olympique de Marseille (OM) after the first 10 days of Ligue 1. He underlined the extent of the renewal of the Marseille squad, a radical change which justifies the ups and downs observed at the start of the season.
According to Karim BenaniOlympique de Marseille carried out a squad renewal of around 80%, with arrivals who strengthened almost all the lines of the team. Only a few players, like Leonardo Balerdi, Quentin Merlin, are part of the hard core which has seen few changes. This profound renewal has long-term advantages, but also involves a phase of setting up automation.
The journalist underlines that this period of adaptation is normal, especially in a championship as competitive as Ligue 1, where cohesion between players is essential to aim for the top places. The question now is to know at what pace OM will be able to develop this cohesion, especially in the face of competition which has, for the most part, maintained stability in its workforce.
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OM's first results: encouraging signs
At this stage of the championship, OM have managed to stay ahead of several clubs that have seen little change in their team composition, such as Monaco, Lille, Niceand even Lyon or Lens. These teams, despite their stability, did not manage to widen the gap on Marseille, which is an excellent sign for the future.
Karim Benani specifies that after 10 days, in a Ligue 1 championship reduced to 34 matches, it is already possible to make a first assessment. What makes even more sense is that OM is ahead of teams which, for some, are even playing in the European Cup. This solid start to the season shows that Olympique de Marseille has arguments to make, despite its squad being under construction.
An OM with enormous potential for the months to come
Benani remains optimistic about OM's potential for the months to come. He envisages a rise in power for the Marseille team, with better integration of recruits and a more fluid game once the automatisms have been found. “Imagine what this Marseille squad can do with automation in 1, 2 or 6 months…”he says. A team which, once fully established, could quickly become one of the most formidable in Ligue 1.
Conclusion: OM on the path to redemption
Karim Benani's analysis highlights a crucial aspect of the current season for Olympique de Marseille: the renewal of the squad. Although the team is not yet at its full potential, the results are already positive, with places ahead of clubs who have maintained stability in their squad. OM will have to show themselves much stronger at the Vélodrome stadium and against direct competitors, because the big defeat against PSG has a hard time being digested by the supporters
