Olympique de Marseille loses very big! Less than a week after falling at home against Paris Saint-Germain, OM traveled to Pierre-Mauroy to challenge Lille at the opening of the 28th day of Ligue 1. A crucial opposition for the Marseille club, which remains on three consecutive defeats in all competitions, intended to break with its negative spiral and regain color in the championship. But faced with an opponent fully involved in the race for Europe, the task was far from easy and Jean-Louis Gasset’s men were completely foiled.
Disappointing offensively, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s partners failed to put their opponents in difficulty. In return, the Mastiffs exploited Marseille’s defensive blunders to perfection. If Pau Lopez postponed the deadline for a long time in the first period, he ended up being weighed down by his defense, like this risky back pass from Luis Henrique, which, putting Samuel Gigot in difficulty, led to the Lille opened the score from the penalty spot. Behind, a new lost ball from Amine Harit offered the break goal on a plateau to Rémy Cabella, well inspired outside the area. The reduction in the gap between Marseille, helped by Ismaily, will remain anecdotal, because it was Lille who showed character to definitively take cover (3-1) and climb onto the podium. Plunging back into their failings, OM are now ten points behind their evening opponent.
The big anger of Jean-Louis Gasset
Disconcerted by the overall performance of his team, Jordan Veretout had a lot on his heart after the final whistle. “We were bad. We give away the match and at this level, we have no right. The season is not over but we will quickly have to get our heads back on track. Whip and work because it is far too insufficient this evening. They swept us away, we gave them goals. We don’t have the right when we are Olympique de Marseille and you have ambitions”, regretted the Marseille midfielder. Despite a reduced workforce due to an infirmary which is always full, the ex-Nantes resident did not want to make excuses and called for a general rethinking: “we must also stop hiding behind the injured. We have a squad that is built at the start of the season. If the players are here, it’s because they have the abilities. Now we have to raise the level, because it is too insufficient. We can’t have an average match and two draws. Everyone needs to question themselves and return to work because it is not worthy of OM.”
In line with his player’s comments, Jean-Louis Gasset was even more virulent with his group. Usually optimistic and very calm in front of the cameras, the Marseille technician this time appeared very angry when debriefing the meeting. “The feeling that drives me? Anger. We had the opportunity, despite a checkered season, to be able to hope by having six championship matches afterwards. And we gave away the match, we only gave away, we missed goals… we were rubbish. Against Paris, I was frustrated because we had the ingredients to make a great team doubt. There this evening, we were eaten up, in the duels, in the desire, over the last 30 meters. We have situations that we have to finish, even in the first half. But it seems like we’re afraid… I don’t know what.”expressed the 70-year-old technician at the microphone of Prime Video. “Qualification in C1? If we had taken points this evening, we still had a little hope. But when we give away the match, it’s shameful”. If they have probably drawn a line under their hopes of qualifying for the next Champions League, OM showed a very worrying face a few days before their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Benfica.
Pub. THE
Update