Like every evening, FCM offers you the 3 OM news of the day! On the program this Tuesday: Optimism with De Zerbi and Benatia… Rabiot transformed by the truce? Hard blow for Papin’s protégé…
Jérôme Rothen optimistic about the future of OM with De Zerbi and Benatia!
In his show on RMC, Jérôme Rothen expressed his optimism regarding the Olympique de Marseille project, emphasizing the central role of president Pablo Longoria in the club's quest for stability. The former PSG player particularly welcomed the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi as coach and Mehdi Benatia as sports advisor, choices which, according to him, mark a real turning point for OM.
Stability, an imperative for OM
For several years, Olympique de Marseille has been shaken by constant changes at the head of the club, both in terms of coaches and managers. According to Jérôme Rothen, these changes created chronic instability which hampered the club's ambitions. However, the former French international believes that the project set up by Pablo Longoria finally seems to be on the right track. “Will De Zerbi settle in for the long term? I hope there will be stability in this club, finally”said Rothen, emphasizing that this stability is essential to the growth of the club.
De Zerbi and Benatia: decisive choices for OM
Pour Jerome Rothenthe arrival of Roberto DeZerbi at the head of the Marseille team is excellent news. The Italian coach is known for his passion and innovative approach to football, qualities which Rothen believes are perfectly suited to Olympique Marseille. “A passionate person like Roberto De Zerbi with all his staff can only do good for Olympique de Marseille”he commented.
Rothen also highlights the role of Mehdi Benatiathe ex-Moroccan defender, who brings valuable experience within the organization. “I am happy to see that a big club like Olympique de Marseille is integrating veterans into the management who can contribute”said Rothen, highlighting the lack of experienced figures in French football. According to him, Benatia could be a major asset for OM, in particular thanks to his knowledge of the high level and the rigor required in European competitions.
A turning point for OM
For Jérôme Rothen, this new sporting direction could be the start of an era of success for Olympique de Marseille. “Before the match against Auxerre, in terms of communication and everything he was able to achieve, it was a 100% success”he concluded about Roberto De Zerbi. This change of direction, with men on the ground like De Zerbi and Benatia, could mark the end of instability and open the way to a new dynamic for OM.
OM: A player transformed by this international break?
After the match against AJ Auxerre, the international break came at just the right time to forget the mediocre performance of the Olympians. A player also stood out with his team!
01 Geronimo RULLI (o) – 21 Valentin RONGIER (o) – 13 Derek CORNELIUS (o) – 20 Lilian BRASSIER (o) – 62 Amir MURILLO (o) – 19 Geoffrey KONDOGBIA (o) – 23 Pierre-Emile HOJBJERG (o) – 10 Mason GREENWOOD (om) – 11 Amine HARIT (am) – 44 LUIS HENRIQUE (am) – 08 Neal MAUPAY (am) during the Ligue 1 MCDonald's match between Olympique de Marseille and Nice at the Orange Velodrome on September 14, 2024 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Dave Winter/FEP/Icon Sport) – Photo by Icon Sport
Roberto De Zerbi confided, he would have liked this international break not to come so soon in order to continue working. Unfortunately, the players were called up by their nations and had to honor their selection. Adrien Rabiot stood out with the Blues against Italy, scoring a double with a header. For La Provence, this performance could allow him to give the best of himself with OM during the restart.
Rabiot makes a lasting impression
The Italian media, still barely reeling from the exploit of Jannik Sinner were quick to devote several pages to Adrien Rabiot. On the cover of Corriere dello Sportthe tone is set with the title: “Rabiot wakes us up”a direct reference to the French international's impact on the game. As for Tuttosportthe newspaper was more trenchant, headlined: “Rabiot downgrades us”alluding to the domination of the French midfielder against the Nazionale.
The Gazzetta dello Sportfor its part, awarded the best score of the match (7.5) to Adrien Rabiot, highlighting his exceptional performance and his ability to destabilize Italy. The daily commented that it was “elusive for the apathetic Frattesi” and added that“Roberto De Zerbi, the coach of the OM, took notes”. Insinuating that the Olympian coach could learn lessons for the future.
With this double, Rabiot confirmed that he was no longer simply a complementary player. This match against Italy showed another side of the French midfielder, much more decisive and determined. If some consider him too inconsistent at club level, he has proven that he can be a man of great stature on the international scene.
The Italian press therefore had difficulty digesting this crushing defeat and this brutal awakening in the face of an imperial Adrien Rabiot. The player's performance is enough to leave regrets in Milan who tried to recruit the midfielder last summer, without success. Now, with OM, Rabiot seems ready to write a new page in his career, and Italy has had a spectacular glimpse of it.
OM: Big blow for Papin’s protégé!
After an exceptional start to the season and remarkable performances, Robinio Vaz receives a huge suspension! 9 matches including 4 suspended for shooting at a fence where a Corte supporter was.
During a meeting with Court in Corse, Robinio Vaz stood out negatively. The young OM striker shot the ball into a fence where there was an opposing supporter. According to several sources, he suffered racist insults, which would explain his action. However, the verdict is in, he will be suspended for 9 matches, 4 of which will be suspended after his expulsion.
ALSO READ: Rothen: “I can assure you that OM are clearly not happy with their start to the season”
Provence gives us the verdict of President Pablo Longoria. Jean-Pierre Papin will stay with the OM reserve. Ali Zarrak, with whom the coach had had tensions in recent months, will also remain at the club. However, he will be assigned to other functions in order to no longer be in contact with JPP.
ALSO READ: OM: it was hot for the reserve's top scorer!
Di Meco's revelations about the conflict with Papin
The former OM defender Eric Di Meco mentioned the conflict within OM between the former Ballon d'Or, Jean-Pierre Papinet Ali Zararhead of Pro 2 and deputy of Medhi Benatia.
“When you are a reserve coach, you find yourself constantly torn between your desire to be competitive and the demands of the professional group. When Jean-Pierre is called, it is to avoid the relegation of the reserves, and he even manages to bring them back to the top of the ranking. The National 3 is the fifth division, so it makes me smile when we say that we are preparing the young people of this championship to play in Ligue 1. You have seen a lot of young people playing in the first team in recent times years at OM? explains Di Meco before continuing.
“Today, Jean-Pierre is in the lead, and I sincerely think that, in the interest of OM, it would be more useful for the reserves to move up to National 2, because that would allow the players to be better trained. Then, Jean Pierre has no problem with De Zerbi, who has other priorities than worrying about Bacola's position, whether he plays midfielder or center forward.
The problem is that there is a director of the reserve who has taken on a lot of importance recently. This is the same one who was in conflict with Mbemba. This gentleman apparently lacks diplomacy… He speaks badly to people. He arrived with Tessier, and if we look at his career, it seems to have often happened like this in his previous clubs. He is presented as close to Mehdi Benatia, but it was not he who brought him in, he was already in office before.
There is therefore a conflict between two men, and, from what I know, management has difficulty deciding,” declared the former OM defender. Eric Di Meco at the microphone of RMC Sport.
