A new disillusionment at the Vélodrome
Olympique de Marseille is going through a difficult period, particularly during matches at the Vélodrome, where Roberto De Zerbi's team is struggling to win. Friday evening, OM were severely beaten by Auxerre (1-3), accumulating poor performances at home with only five points taken out of fifteen possible. The owner of OM, Frank McCourtpresent in the stands, witnessed this rout, a recurring scenario this season. The team's difficulties can be explained in part by its inability to adapt to the rapid counterattacks of its opponents. The Auxerres, disciplined and efficient, were able to exploit OM's defensive weaknesses from the start of the match, taking advantage of an error from Lilian Brassier to open the scoring. By relying on rapid transitions and a solid block, the AJA undermined the Marseille team, too disorganized to react effectively. Roberto De Zerbi attempted tactical adjustments with a creative setup, including Luis Henrique at number ten and positional changes for Quentin Merlin and Pol Lirola. However, his ambitious style of play seems difficult to impose in a Championship where speed and defensive rigor are often essential. The supporters expressed their frustration, believing that the players lacked fighting spirit. Faced with this situation, De Zerbi took responsibility, admitting his failure to make the team play both at home and away. He even discussed the possibility of leaving his position, saying he was ready to walk away from his contract if he was the problem. The Italian coach must now find a solution to adapt his game to the specific context of Ligue 1 and meet the expectations of the Vélodrome, a challenge which could be decisive for his future at OM.
Defensive problems persist…
Olympique de Marseille (OM) suffered another rout against AJ Auxerre at the Vélodrome, a 1-3 defeat which exacerbated the frustrations of the supporters. Twelve days after a heavy defeat against PSG (0-3), the Olympians were once again overwhelmed, showing neither commitment nor offensive creativity. By half-time, the score was already 0-3 in favor of the Auxerrois, leading to a massive bronca from the stands, and chants of “Wet the jersey or get out of it” rang out, signaling the growing discontent with the performance of the home team. The Marseille defense, weakened by several individual errors, let Lassine Sinayoko open the scoring in the 10th minute after a missed Lilian Brassierwhile Gaëtan Perrin and Hamed Traoré scored before the break. Mason Greenwood's penalty goal in the second half was not enough to turn the situation around. Roberto De Zerbi, whose tactical choices are called into question, seems powerless in the face of these recurring failures at the Vélodrome. With only one match per week and without a European Cup, the coach struggles to justify his team's lack of motivation. OM's defensive situation is all the more alarming as players like Chancel Mbembaalthough solid, are ruled out for reasons of principle, raising questions about management choices. This defeat marks another missed opportunity for OM, who must absolutely get their act together after the international break.
