Arriving in Marseille to take over from Marcelino, Gennaro Gattuso is tackling an important project.
In his career as a coach, Gennaro Gattuso cultivates a sense of counter-balance that was unknown to him during his first life as a player. Very close to committing to Lyon two weeks ago, the Italian technician is taking charge of another Olympic club, after seeing his 2006 friend Fabio Grosso style him in the Rhône. In this funny story with crossed trajectories, not sure that Gattuso will lose out. But the mission of the new OM coach promises to be arduous.
Management style
By signing a short contract until the end of the season with an optional season, Gennaro Gattuso has clearly assumed the reason for his arrival: a commando mission. Accounting, there is no danger since OM are in 8th place with 9 points in 6 matches. But the context, the timing and the impression left in the game give an urgency to the situation. After the short interim of “Pancho” Abardonado with mixed fortunes – encouraging draw against Ajax Amsterdam (3-3) and humiliating defeat in the Classic against PSG (0-4) – Gattuso will be expected around the corner.
Monaco, Saturday in Ligue 1, then the formidable Brighton team will be on the program. On paper, the new OM coach presents a profile which could have its benefits in the short term. Temperamental, barker, unifier, Gattuso has the levers of the traditional leader who stick to the timing of the moment. His personality will contrast with Marcelino’s very self-effacing temperament.
The game
Behind his pitbull appearance, Gennaro Gattuso will also have to provide answers in the game. Because this is also where the problem lies, in Marseille. Despite some individual outbursts, OM has left an unflattering collective impression since the start of the season. The productions of the Marseille club under Marcelino have been bland, even poor. The non-match at the Parc des Princes last Sunday with Abardonado on the bench obviously didn’t help anything. On this point, Gattuso generates more reserves than in his management.
A fan of a 4-3-3 system during his stints at AC Milan or Naples, the 45-year-old Italian was not really known for the attractiveness of his game plan. Under his leadership, Milan and Naples sought more to annihilate the opponent’s forces than to impose their game. We should therefore not expect to see a pro-active and flamboyant OM team. Facing Monaco or Brighton, Marseille could line up a low block and rely on a fairly classic counter approach.
The choice of men
Ironically, OM is once again banking on a technician who recently worked for Valence CF. A not so trivial fact. Since Gattuso recovers a squad shaped last summer by the Longoria-Marcelino duo. If the man exudes a personality very distinct from that of his predecessor, the coach should have no difficulty using the equipment he has in store. In a different scheme, OM should rely on the same strong men as the previous versions. With their qualities and their limitations, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Valentin Rongier, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jordan Veretout, Samuel Gigot or Pau Lopez should continue to form the backbone of the team.
