If we were at the theater, the time would have come to ask the question of Don Diègue to his son. “ Rodrigue, do you have a heart ? »
For Roberto De Zerbi, his question would have a completely different theme. “ Olympians, do you have character ? » After the collective performance against PSG, doubt is allowed. And, throughout the week, the Italian made sure to chase him. Banking precisely on the mentality of his troops to seek a new victory, this time in Nantes.
He knows that it will not be easy, facing Bretons who are in tough conditions. He is also counting on his executives, first and foremost Mason Greenwood, who gave up facing the Parisians, to show that it was a simple slump. And as he likes to point out, his group is still in the process of getting used to it.
« If you ask me what I honestly think of my team so far, I think it has alternated between very big performances, like in Brest, in Toulouse, the first half against Reims and certain moments, Nice too. » But he remains lucid, recognizing “ honestly ugly, even bad matches. If we take Strasbourg, Angers, the second half against Reims, PSG ».
One time Doctor Jekyll, one time Mister Hyde, OM hesitates on what could be his true face. “ There are different reasons for this. But I think that when you rebuild a team with new players, with a new coach, it's not always easy. »
He also recognizes that “ even I don't know what the face of OM really is. Is it that of OM in Montpellier? Is it OM against PSG? Is it OM Reims? The first half? The second half? The only thing I can tell you is that if we win on Sunday, we will have taken twenty points in ten matches ».
These last words sum up what is at stake in the trip to Nantes. A victory would bring enough peace of mind to Marseille to ease the pain of failure against PSG. And consolidate a third place “ which I am not satisfied with because we could have more », but to which the Phocaeans must cling, because it allows them to stay in the wake of the two leaders. And to be able to take advantage of a misstep to put the pressure back on them.
For this, we will have to return from Nantes with a victory, finishing if possible at eleven. And find a new balance for a team deprived of Amine Harit, suspended following the red card received against PSG.
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