Despite an honorable balance sheet, OM has not convinced since the start of the season. And for good reason…
Neutralized at home by Toulouse on Sunday (0-0), OM have already dropped six points this season, including four against teams – Nantes and Metz – who were playing outnumbered. Beyond the balance sheet, far from being alarming since the Marseillais are third in the elite, tied with the Niçois and two points behind the Monegasque leader, it is indeed the game proposed by Marcelino’s men which calls out, even worried.
In the Spanish coach’s immutable 4-4-2 – a system which often takes on the appearance of 4-2-4 given the profile of the players lined up and which has the unfortunate tendency to cut the team in two – Valentin Rongier and others sometimes appear lost, in need of offensive solutions and therefore particularly vulnerable. A perpetual imbalance which got the better of the patience of Marseille supporters this weekend. And which seems to leave the players powerless.
“This 4-4-2 means nothing! »
At the end of the game against TFC, Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez confessed: “ There is really a lot to improve, it’s a reality. I think it’s obvious. We can’t just talk about effort or racing, because we give everything in every match. Maybe we need to better understand what the coach expects from us, both in defense and attack. It’s about understanding the game, each situation. This will help us play better. I think it’s more about play than intensity. (…) We’ve already lost a lot of points, even against teams we should normally beat. And against teams playing with 10, it is even more crucial. We have to improve a lot. We must clearly understand what is expected of us, identify what we can improve, each of us. (…) Our coach, who worked a lot in Spain, places a lot of emphasis on tactics. We must understand what he is asking of us, and pay attention to his instructions for each player. »
Read also: Ligue 1: The results Ligue 1: The ranking
On the airwaves of RMC, Sunday evening, Daniel Riolo confided his concern, pointing out the inflexibility of a Marcelino clearly ready to die with his ideas. “ I am very worried about OM. Tudor’s OM offered total football, everywhere a little crazy, disheveled, with a lot of risk-taking. There, I’m bored. And I don’t see a way out. I thought Marcelino was more flexible… but he is not, and if there is already a player who is starting to say that he doesn’t understand it well, it’s because basically they don’t understand anything! There is nothing that fits, this 4-4-2 means nothing! » Pau Lopez’s admission, therefore, did not go unnoticed. And Marcelino’s position already seems very uncomfortable, if not weakened.
