Nice – OM – “It’s sad”, “we weren’t OM”: Marseille, the breakdown

We left the Marseillais last Sunday complaining about the referee with probably too much vehemence. Because if OM dropped points last Sunday against Strasbourg, it was first and foremost because of its own weaknesses, particularly defensively. This Sunday, in Nice, Pablo Longoria did not go to the broadcaster to light a counter-fire and no press release will leave OM’s mailboxes this week. The referee had nothing to do with it and the defeat in Nice (2-0) is indisputable as the Aiglons defeated the Phocaeans (2-0) on the Côte d’Azur.

Marseille pulled the plug and it was once again their individual errors that pushed them to the precipice. First culprit: Lilian Brassier, author of two or even three errors on Evan Guessand’s opening score. “We conceded the first goal in a very bad way“, regretted a grinning De Zerbi. “The goals came too easilycontinued Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the microphone of Dazn. OWe concede a goal after 7 minutes against a well-organized team. It’s annoying.”

This opening of the score comes, of course, as a turning point. But, in truth, the runners-up from PSG never really seemed able to bring something back from their trip. “We were not OM. You have to watch this match a lot of timeswarned Leonardo Balerdi. There was no movement. We have a lot to improve, we don’t normally play like that. It’s sad for us. I’m angry.”

The Argentinian is not exempt from all criticism and as against Strasbourg, the defense, of which he must be the boss, suffered in its management of depth. Each time Nice attacked, the rearguard was systematically taken behind its back and the two goals followed the departures of Nice attackers from deep.

Up front, there was nothing to guard. And it’s surprising to see how much of a liability Mason Greenwood can be when things don’t go his way while Neal Maupay is definitely going through a more tormented streak. The former Nice player has not attempted a strike in 4 matches. Without a center forward capable of shooting, it’s difficult to hope to score. “We didn’t play welllamented the Italian coach of OM. We deserve to lose the match. We deserve defeat. It can happen. Ligue 1 is a difficult competition. We kept the ball, we turned it but not really at the right speed and not always with the right attitude. We suffered too much.“

Nice came back to within four points of OM who seemed to have left them behind for good. While the Marseillais had made a hole with the rest of the Champions League aspirants, AS Monaco came back to three points. The threat is back and by dint of shooting blanks, Marseille could end up regretting the missed opportunities. Lyon is still on seven points but next week, it will have the opportunity to get back to four points after its trip to the Vélodrome. So, will OM have learned their lesson?