At the Vélodrome stadium,
Did this infernal spiral into which Olympique Marseille have plunged since the start of the season end on Thursday evening with qualification for the semi-finals of the Europa League? The Marseillais warded off the fate that seemed to follow them by beating Benfica Lisbon on penalties, in a Vélodrome stadium that erupted from Moumbagna’s goal (79th). And it was Pau Lopez who qualified, stopping the decisive shot on goal. That’s what you’re saying.
And to be frank, we even thought that this match would bring OM’s European season full circle, which began with a cruel defeat in the preliminary round of the Champions League, against Panathinaikos. Already on penalties. The start of the descent into hell for the Marcelino gang, quickly replaced by Gennaro Gattuso who had slowly qualified the Olympians for a play-off against Shakthar.
“We made it to the end of the night, the suspense”
And it was finally just after the first leg that the Italian coach also left. The firefighter on duty, Jean-Louis Gasset, then arrived at the bedside of the sick OM, two days before beating the Ukrainians to qualify. And get to where they are today. Not without difficulty, as since the start of this roller coaster season.
“I am happy, already, and proud of the players, the state of mind, the public, of Marseille. We never gave up, we put continuity in the state of mind. We got to the end of the night, the suspense, when we see happy people, we are happy,” Jean-Louis Gasset still liked it.
It is this intensity that OM players are precisely unable to achieve over time. As in these last five defeats in a row on which the Marseillais remained, and this shameful 9th place in Ligue 1. But the European Cup gives them wings, like Jean-Louis Gasset, radiant at a press conference: “We dream of everything, we dream of these evenings. It’s a competition that suits us well, we beat Shakthar, Villarreal, Benfica, opponents with good odds. »
“There was something special”
And the Vélodrome stadium is made to magnify these dream evenings, right Pau Lopez, the other hero of the evening? “They’re still there, but you feel like there was something different.” It was incredible, thank you for everything you give for OM. We knew we could win with the supporters and we did it. »
Above all, the players were aware of a perfect opportunity to make amends, and what could be better than the European Cup for a city that only has that word on its mouth? “Of course we are happy, especially for the supporters. In a complicated season, reaching a semi-final of the European Cup, knowing that for them the Europa League is very important… We must enjoy it for them too, thank you,” insisted the goalkeeper.
“It beautifies the end of the season”
It now remains to transpose this feat into the last final sprint which awaits the Marseillais with a schedule which has suddenly become overloaded with this double confrontation against Atalanta Bergamo. “It enhances the end of the season, you are a semi-finalist in the European Cup having eliminated three titled clubs, so it’s an epic unfolding and we want to go as far as possible. But one season, it is judged at the end and we hope to have fewer headaches,” pushed Jean-Louis Gasset.
But with more new injuries, at least Mbemba, and Jordan Veretout completely burnt out at the end of overtime, the Marseille coach still risks tinkering after having already brought in two “minots”, Daou and Lafont. And OM is faltering, while qualification for Europe remains far away in Ligue 1.