“At the Vélodrome, we are tigers, outside we are horsesats”, launched Jean-Louis Gasset last Thursday after the slap received against Atalanta Bergamo (3-0) in the semi-final second leg of the Europa League. A scathing observation but so clear. So how can we learn to travel again in just a few days? The challenge of Olympique de Marseille is known for this last week of L1 version 2023-24 After their victory on Sunday against Lorient (3-1), the Phocéens have their destiny in their hands to snatch sixth place, qualifying for the Europa Conference League and possibly the Europa League in the event of PSG’s success in the Coupe de France. With two victories, the story would be settled. But this challenge is more complicated than it seems.
On paper, winning this Wednesday at Reims (11th) which has nothing left to play for then at Le Havre (15th) seems clearly within the reach of a team with the ambitions of OM. But the problem is that this Marseille team is catastrophic away from the Vélodrome this season. We are talking about the 17th L1 team in this 2023-24 opus with a poor record of two wins for five draws and above all eight defeats, or 11 small points in 15 matches this season far from its bases. Including the Europa League, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s teammates even managed to equal a sad record in the club’s history by going no less than 21 matches without a victory this season away.
This group lacks awareness, personality
How can we explain this sad record? When they are not carried by the fervor of their ebullient public, the Phocaeans suddenly become very timid. To the point of being too often unrecognizable during this exercise. “This group lacks awareness and personality. This is what makes it only the Vélodrome that transcends it. This stadium sublimates us and makes us do unexpected things“, recognized Gasset again. “At home, the supporters give us strength but away we lack a little concentration“, confirmed Luis Henrique this Tuesday.
If the attitude of the Marseillais has a lot to do with it as they fail to provide the necessary ingredients, Laurent Batlles, the former Marseille midfielder, recalled another fact in La Provence this Monday: “OM cannot play the same way at the Vélodrome and away from home, that’s logical. Away, it’s another approach where the opponents want to hit this emblematic club.”. And Gasset’s charges have not shown the strength of character this season to surpass that. But the craziest thing in all of this is that during the last L1 seasons (1st L1 away team in 2021-22, 2nd in 2022-23), OM had conversely won as a formidable force far from its bases.
We’ll have to find some extra soul
So how can we find the recipe to cure this travel sickness and succeed in doing what OM have never done before this season by signing two consecutive victories on the road? “We will have to be more determined on the outside. There are only two matches left, home or away, it doesn’t matter anymore“, announced Faris Moumbagna on Sunday in the mixed zone. “We have to find the cure, awareness is never too late, we have to press the right buttons to realize the importance of this match“, added Gasset.
For this, OM has “changed (his) habits.” “We were leaving the morning of the matches, but now we are going to leave now to be at the hotel a day before the match“, explained the Marseille coach on Tuesday morning. “On Wednesday, we will have individual interviews with all the players to see who is affected. Because this Wednesday at 11 p.m., we must be virtually European.” The quest for Europe goes through this. And when we know the importance of having a European Cup for OM, the Phocaeans have an interest in finding their last seasons. And forgetting their shortcomings this exercise outside Faults which plagued their season.