OM dreams big. Before the final day of Ligue 1, Medhi Benatia spoke at length at the microphone of BeIN Sports on the current state of Olympique de Marseille, its ambitions for next season and the reality of the gap with Paris Saint-Germain. The sportsman of the Marseille club does not rock illusions on the rivalry with the champion of France, but assumes a clear line: that of progress, without complex.
Faced with PSG's performances this season, especially in the Champions League, Benatia recognizes the collective quality displayed by the men of Luis Enrique. “This PSG that I have seen the last five months is the best PSG I have seen since the start of the QSI era. We see that they run together, that they work together. Before it was rather a team of stars, now it's a team ” he greets.
However, Benatia believes that OM does not have to be ashamed of its potential or to live in the shadow of Paris. “I don't see what OM has to envy other French clubs, you must be there, you must be sure of your strength. (…) I don't want to watch Paris, I want to look at us, to progress ” he insists. And if the budget gap is a brake, it is not an insurmountable obstacle according to the former defender.
“I recognize that PSG has created a team”
With this in mind, OM intends to strengthen intelligently during the next summer transfer window. The objective remains clear: to find the consistency to regularly target the first places. “I want this constancy to be found, that it is not the roller coaster as this year. The assessment is good but it's up to us to put the bar still a little higher ”explains Benatia, determined to shoot the club upwards.
Inspired by his past experiences at Juventus or Bayern, Benatia wants to be ambitious but lucid. And if Marseille does not follow the Parisian model, it is nonetheless respectful of the journey of its rival: “I recognize that PSG has created a team (…) Bravo to them. But I cannot tell you that I am inspired by PSG ”. A frank declaration, between admiration and identity affirmation.
