OM – Nantes (2-1) / Igor Tudor promises: “You will see Dimitri Payet and Alexis Sanchez play together”

Their association is already salivating. Already because Sanchez reassured a lot. The Chilean, who arrived from Inter after the termination of his contract, had not started a match for more than six months. However, it didn’t take long for him to get up to speed. Mobile, available between the lines, always on the initiative, the former Barcelonan was able to showcase himself for a big hour. “Alexis had a very good match, he was in all the actionrejoiced Tudor at a press conference. It’s very positive. He had to be changed, it was his first game for a very long time.”

Payet knew how to take over. The entry into play of the former Nantes player coincided with a second saving wind for Marseille. He brought this accuracy which was lacking in the last third of the opposing field, as well as his address on set pieces. On one of his corners, the Canaries goalkeeper, Alban Lafont, found himself in difficulty and Chancel Mbemba was able to take advantage of it to open the scoring. Payet’s ability to keep the ball was then invaluable, at the end of the match, to allow the Marseille club to resist the pressure from Nantes to win the game.

A question of circumstances

What emerges is that the Marseille attack would certainly take on another dimension if Sanchez and Payet were aligned at the same time. Tudor had chosen to considerably reduce his offensive sector against Nantes, leaving the Chilean alone in the lead, supported by Gerson. More for a question of circumstances than in a logic of prudence. “Right now we would struggle to play with three pure strikers, although I know the fans would like that.said the OM coach. I decide by seeing the training sessions and maybe it will be different in the next game.”

This tactical choice may end up winning over the Croatian. The OM collective displayed qualities but also certain limits against Nantes. This is not illogical given the recent arrival of Tudor, and the establishment of a game philosophy totally different from that of its predecessor, Jorge Sampaoli. Marseille will progress, and certainly register other reinforcements before the end of the transfer window. But he will in any case need his best individuals to turn the matches around. And on the Nantes match, it is Sanchez and Payet who stand out.

Tudor is aware of this. And if he has not completely departed from this caution which accompanies him in front of the media since his arrival in France, the Croatian technician has nevertheless promised to associate his two offensive individuals in the future. “You will see Payet and Sanchez playing togetherhe conceded at a press conference. From the start or during the match, again it depends on several factors.” The trip to Nice next Sunday will be a first opportunity for the Olympian coach to keep his promise.