At the Velodrome stadium,
A big sigh of relief accompanied by a broad smile. This is the celebration offered by Vitinha, the Olympique de Marseille striker, accompanied by a long breath, in the mixed zone after his double against Troyes, Sunday evening at the end of the 31st day of Ligue 1. The Portuguese landed this winter for 32 million with the label of the most expensive rookie in the history of the club, finally unlocked his goal counter to offer a precious victory to OM at the Vélodrome stadium (3-1).
First with power, recovering a badly cleared ball after his first cross, to come and catapult him under the bar of Gallon from the 2nd minute of the match. What a perfect start for his team, which had not won at home in the league since January 14. Then with mischief, then taking the flat of the foot a header from Kolasinac deflected on the bar, to score a goal ready or almost (64th).
“I find him intelligent, good in the surface”
In two actions, he was able to show what he was capable of with his desire and his ball striking, and his sense of placement. What to be able to come and celebrate this first double, in three tenure only it must be remembered, with a few words of French. “Thank you very much, these goals are very important for me, for my head. It’s good for confidence, and for the club. I will continue to work, and the goals will come,” he said.
Everything is of course not yet perfect, like his incredible miss in front of the Trojan goal a few minutes after the opener (12th), but his association with Alexis Sanchez hurt Troyes very badly, with certainly a very low level. The former Marseille and Trojan captain, Adil Rami, knows something about it since he was marking the young Portuguese. “I saw that he had a lot of pressure, in addition he is moving from the Portuguese championship to the French championship, it’s still a big difference. Plus it’s Marseille, it’s not a club, we know that, it’s a country within a country. But that’s fine, frankly I really like this player profile, who plays with his back to goal, with his arms. I find him intelligent, good in the surface. Now we know that a confident player is not the same. So I think it will do him good to have scored twice. »
“We told him to keep working”
After a “difficult” arrival, as he himself admitted, Vitinha scored twice when the Marseillais chained poor performances (three draws in the last four games). And that the fans were starting to worry a little about his low playing time, and his performance when he was playing. Especially when they saw Terem Moffi, also announced for OM in the winter transfer window, slamming his scissors in the Europa League conference last Thursday with Nice.
But his teammates, and the staff, did not doubt, and did everything to put him in the best possible conditions. “Me, like the whole group, we tried to welcome him as best as possible. I have an acquaintance in common, Simon Banza, with whom he played in Braga, who sent me a message to tell me that he was quite shy, and that it was good to be able to integrate him. It hasn’t always been easy, but we told him to keep working, and tonight it’s paying off. I am particularly happy for him, ”congratulated Jonathan Clauss. Statements confirmed by the principal concerned: “Since I arrived, the team and the staff ask me if everything is fine, they encourage me, everyone is very nice”.
“Before/after international break”
For his coach, the international break served as a trigger, “there is a before and after national selection”: “I’m happy with him, everyone is happy with him. It took him time, but he brings freshness, energy, he attacks spaces. When he’s in the box it’s a danger to others, “said Igor Tudor, who must have appreciated his striker’s gift for his 45th birthday.
The signs do not deceive, and the Croatian is not due to do him any favors, Vitinha remained until the final whistle on the lawn of the Stade Vélodrome, unlike Sanchez, who left in the 75th minute. . From now on, all of Marseille hopes to see the striker keep OM in 2nd place in Ligue 1 until the end of the season, a runner-up spot regained on Sunday evening thanks to his very good performance on Sunday evening.