The role of Igor Tudor in the revival of Leonardo Balerdi

One of the “best players in the squad for three or four games”, quite simply. The compliment comes from Igor Tudor, the coach of Olympique de Marseille, for his defender Leo Balerdi, who was at a press conference before the match against Ajaccio this Saturday (5 p.m.). A renewal symbolized by his very good performance on Tuesday in the Champions League against Sporting Portugal, punctuated by a goal from a corner. “The last match was very important for me, for the team, we needed that. This goal is also very important, ”he savored.

The Argentinian defender had however left, under the boos of the Vélodrome stadium, from the 26th minute against Lille, at the beginning of September, after a more than complicated start to the match and a quick yellow card. Igor Tudor had also confided “to be sorry” and not to like “what happened”.

Balerdi also returned to this episode:

After Lille, he talked to me a lot and told me things that helped me a lot. He explained to me that it was more for the yellow card, and that he had already done that with Hella Verona. I understood the change, even if Igor Tudor did not realize that I was going to be whistled, otherwise he could have waited for half-time. But it was instinctive. »

By his own admission, the criticism and whistles from supporters have been “a bit harsh”. But the Argentinian has always wanted to win at Olympique de Marseille despite discussions with Bologna this summer. “I talked about it with my family and I told them that even if there were a lot of people talking and it hurt me, I wanted to play in Marseille and play in the Champions League with OM”, he confided. A desire shared by Igor Tudor, who “insisted that he stay” because he “always believed in him”.

“A small hope” for the World Cup

It was this confidence from his coach that allowed the young defender to bounce back. “Having as much playing time, as much as all of last season, is very important to me. I feel better in training and it is thanks to the confidence of the coach and this playing time that he gives me, ”he explained.

The former position, defender, occupied by his coach necessarily plays there too. “Yes, it makes me feel good. When I was little I had a coach who was a former defender and he talked to me a lot, gave me a lot of information and shared his experience. Igor Tudor does the same thing, he speaks with the whole team and then with the defenders, giving us very interesting advice,” rejoiced Leo Balerdi. What hope to play the next World Cup with Argentina? “I still have a little hope,” he says.

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