This season, OM had great ambitions despite the absence of Europe. With the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi on his bench, the Marseille club had reason to hope for a good season in the elite. At the start of the season, Marseille's first performances augured the best for the end of the season. Indeed, interestingly during each meeting, the Marseille club gave the impression of being able to disturb PSG in the quest for the title. However, over the course of the weeks and the disappointments, this perspective quickly fell by the wayside. After disappointing performances, particularly at home, the Canebière club had to lower its expectations.
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Indeed, plagued by doubt at home, the Marseillais have only one victory, two draws and two defeats in five home games this season. The latest setback dates back to this Friday evening and it will undoubtedly leave consequences in the coming weeks. Faced with an AJ Auxerre in full swing, the Phocéens were surprised in the first period. With defensive errors galore and damaging tactical mistakes, Marseille returned to the locker room with a three-goal deficit. A chasm that [Olympiens n’ont pas su combler en seconde période malgré un léger baroud d’honneur (1-3)](). Under the bronca of a Vélodrome more hostile than ever to its residents, Adrien Rabiot's teammates were completely groggy at the end of the meeting.
The cold anger of Adrien Rabiot, the stupor of Ulisses Garcia
After a tour of the stadium as an apology to the supporters, the OM players presented themselves at the microphone of DAZN. While Quentin Merlin broke into a long diatribe to point out the lack of pride in him and his team at the break, Adrien Rabiot also expressed his anger at the end of the match: “the public, it's normal. When we are OM, we cannot do a performance like that at home. Just as much, when we do things well, they are behind us and they push us, but here, they pushed the whole match. In the end, they're not happy, that's normal. We say it among ourselves, the coach knows it too, we deserve these whistles. In terms of content, it's not enough. We concede too many goals, stupid goals. We worked on things, we didn't put them in place. It’s a match unworthy of OM. We have to do some work on our minds. We see a different team when we play at home and away, it's not normal. We have to keep working, there are things to review. We cannot lose at home against Auxerre when we have different objectives. They are there to play for survival, we are there to play for the title, qualification for the Champions League. Today was an off day.»
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Freshly recalled to the French team by Didier Deschamps, the former PSG midfielder was not the only one to be quite disconcerted by the collective performance given by the Marseillais this Friday evening. Entering the game at half-time, Ulisses Garcia also expressed his dissatisfaction after the match: “it was very hard. The coach was able to speak, but what he says in the locker room must stay in the locker room. Auxerre had a good match. At home, we wanted to do much better. We can't start a match like that and concede so many goals in the first half. We managed to score, but it's not enough. We have game ideas, we tried to put them in place. Today it didn't work. The supporters are there, they give everything and we can't respond. It's insufficient. We wanted to bounce back after Nantes. We will work and have character.» From now on, OM will have time to work during the international break before continuing with a difficult schedule before the end-of-year holidays.
Roberto De Zerbi's shocking statement
However, in what conditions will OM players be working in the coming days? In addition to these exits from several players cheered up after a terrible performance, the bombshell of the evening came from the mouth of Roberto De Zerbi. Indeed, while he did not wish to join the DAZN journalists for a post-match analysis, the Italian coach went to a post-match press conference. During the latter, he explained that he was ready to leave if he was told that the problem was his: “I must take responsibility for this defeat at home. We're having difficulties at home, that's clear. I don't know if it's a lack of courage or personality. I came here to play at the Vélodrome because I wanted to live the experience. If the problem is me, I'm ready to leave. I'm leaving without the money, the rest I don't care. I don't want to make excuses and talk nonsense. I'm not going to escape, we have to face reality. This is what I have to do.»
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Relaunched on the difficulties of his home team and following this incredible announcement, the former Brighton technician gave more explanations on the difficulties of his home team. He also reiterated the possibility of seeing him leave the club soon: “playing at the Vélodrome is a privilege. I have to transfer my passion for football to the players. At PSG, we played with ten, it's true. But what I saw eleven against eleven didn't please me. There are performances that are not good at home. Away, we had good performances, in Toulouse, Montpellier, Nantes. We can't talk about this second place. I must be able to give, to transmit something. I live for things that transcend football. I repeat, if I'm the problem, I need to leave. Money is nothing to me. It’s the reward from the work that’s important. I don't have bad things to say about my players. If I leave, I leave my heart, my soul.» It remains to be seen whether the international break will calm everyone at the club or if Roberto De Zerbi will simply decide to leave the club in the coming days. One thing seems certain: the atmosphere is not good in Marseille…
Pub. the 08/11/2024 23:54
– UPDATE 09/11/2024 00:07