At the Vélodrome stadium,
Olympique Marseille players unhappy as they return to the locker room after the Europa League semi-final first leg against Atalanta Bergamo. Not from having been outclassed, which some feared against Gasperini’s formidable team, but rather from having to settle for a draw (1-1).
A result ultimately not so bad on paper, against the losing team of Liverpool in the previous round. But that leaves OM with a taste of unfinished business as there was room to win. They were able to quickly pull themselves together after Scamacca’s quick and stupid opening score (11th), thanks to Chancel Mbemba who once again turned into a scorer (28th).
The frustration of “long balloons”
Driven by a Vélodrome of great evenings, “a wonderful stadium”, according to the Bergamo coach, the Marseillais then gradually took the measure of Bergamo’s destabilizing individual defense. “It’s all a question of confidence, they felt the opponent’s mark in their backs. We abused the long balls, I told them to relax and have confidence in their partner,” explained Gasset.
Long balls almost as frustrating as Aubameyang’s miss. OM’s usual savior crossed too far with his left shot just before half-time, the perfect moment to take the advantage after an average first period.
And “small details”
The second was then much better, but even more frustrating. Because the Marseillais listened to Gasset, to afford the luxury of dominating thanks to finally more precise transmissions. But the top scorer in the history of the Europa League was definitely not having a great night, and he never stopped harvesting. By perhaps rushing too much on his volley (46th), before completely unscrewing (52nd).
His teammates didn’t do much for him, they rather increased the level of frustration. With Ismaïla Sarr’s goal refused for an offside position by Luis Henrique, at the origin of the center deflected by Aubameyang (65th). And who can say about this magnificent curled shot from Ounahi, despite a small slip, which came to die on the square of the very lucky Musso (73rd)? “There is a little bitter taste, because we are aware of having played the right match against a good team. Matches are decided on details,” recalled Gasset, who could not have better examples.
But lots of hope
A little bitter taste, which frankly would have been much more so if Mirantchouk’s shot had hit the target rather than hitting Pau Lopez’s post, in the final seconds of the match (89th). Captain Gasset therefore preferred to be positive and remobilize his troops: “Some of them had their heads down in the locker room. I told them that we gave everything to win, and that we are only at half-time of the match. We have a week to prepare well, we know what to do. We tried [jeudi] evening, he missed the little extra thing. We’ll have to have it next week.”
He will be able to count on Leo Balerdi, still one of the best Marseillais on the field Thursday evening, and it was not easy against the powerful Scamacca, then the swift Lookman. “There were players who were not happy because we had the chances. But we have to stay positive because we are going to do it there, I am 100% sure of it,” warned the OM defender. But perhaps his teammates remember that they remain in five games without a win and a catastrophic away record before going to Italy on Thursday.