After OM’s defeat in Brest (1-0), the Marseille leaders had a lively discussion in the corridors of the Francis-Le Blé stadium. And the communication of Medhi Benatia, very critical of Jonathan Clauss, is singled out.
Clearly, a quiet weekend rarely passes at Olympique de Marseille. After the defeat of the Phocaeans in Brest (1-0) on Sunday evening, the fate of Gennaro Gattuso is about to be sealed, since the Italian technician could be ousted even before the Europa League return play-off against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday evening.
However, it would be unfair to attribute all of the Olympians’ woes to the former AC Milan midfielder, because it is since the start of the season, under Marcelino, that OM has shown a sluggish face. The players are inevitably to be pointed at, as are the leaders who assembled this team. And RMC also captured a lively discussion between Pablo Longoria and Mehdi Benatia in the corridors of the Francis-Le Blé stadium on Sunday evening, after the new slap received against Brest.
Benatia, the big meatball?
The fate of Gattuso was perhaps already in question, but on Sunday evening, many complaints were also made against Mehdi Benatia. The former defender, OM sports advisor for several months, stood out in two interviews broadcast just before the match where he each time castigated the behavior of Jonathan Clauss. Attacking a player like this just before a match, at this stage of the season, is a fairly rare maneuver among managers. And many observers have pointed out the clumsiness and inexperience of Benatia, who occupies her first position of this type.
“For me, Benatia’s communication is catastrophic, notably railed journalist Florent Gautreau on RMC on Sunday evening. It’s different from telling your player the truth. Any problems that may have happened, a fake injury, inappropriate behavior, you resolve it one-on-one with your player. Throw your player out to your supporters and everyone else. Benatia is young in the profession, he was an agent. You are taking on a very important responsibility in one of the very big French clubs. It’s not worthy of OM to have that. You have the impression that he is the godfather of OM. Since we have been following football, we have seen some lunar statements but this one is incredible. »
