OM returned from Lisbon with a defeat and a lot of frustration. Beaten 2-1 by Sporting this Wednesday in the Champions League, the Marseillais found an ideal culprit: Slovenian referee Obrenovic. Hot, after the final whistle, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Roberto De Zerbi emptied their bags. “It’s scandalous. When we have a match with such high stakes in the Champions League, having such referees is scandalous”said Aubameyang at the microphone of Canal+. De Zerbi hit the nail on the head: “We paid for refereeing errors in my opinion. I didn't like the way it was refereed. I think he was not suitable to referee a match of this level. » The message is clear: Marseille considers itself wronged.
From Zerbi in fury, Emerson at fault: Marseille gets lost in frustration
Marseille's anger focused on Emerson's expulsion just before half-time. The Italian received two yellow cards: a first for an involuntary hand in the 39th, a second for simulation in the 45th after intervention by the VAR. The referee first whistled a penalty, then reversed his decision. “The first yellow Emerson takes is scandalous. He can't do anything with his hand“, cursed Aubameyang. Leading 1-0 at the break thanks to a magnificent goal from Igor Paixao, OM found themselves down to ten men. And everything changed.
Except that the Marseillais perhaps forget to look in the mirror. From the first minutes, the OM defense showed signs of feverishness. Leonardo Balerdi, the captain, committed an avoidable anti-playing error in the 3rd minute and was booked. Geronimo Rulli mishandled a back pass in the 25th. Balerdi lost another dangerous ball in the 38th, giving Luis Suarez an opportunity. Emerson's expulsion? It is above all the result of a stupid simulation, of a lack of discipline. The player played with fire after his first card. It’s difficult to cry foul when you get yourself into trouble.
A collapse in the second half
Ten against eleven, OM sank. De Zerbi took out Mason Greenwood and Arthur Vermeeren from the restart, losing all ability to hold the ball and threaten. The Marseillais played very poorly, suffering from a Sporting which was however unimpressive. Geny Catamo equalized in the 69th on a shot poorly covered by Benjamin Pavard. Alisson Santos gave the Portuguese victory in the 86th, once again with a shot deflected by Pavard. Two avoidable goals, from defensive errors. Not on arbitration decisions.
It's good to have a string of victories and highlight your strengths when everything is going well. But when things go wrong, you have to know how to question yourself. Did the referee influence the match? Yes, the expulsion changed the face of the match. But she was not unfair. Emerson got himself into trouble all by himself. Marseille would benefit from correcting its errors – indiscipline, greed, defensive feverishness – before looking for culprits elsewhere. On this point, the Phocaeans can only blame themselves. With two defeats and one victory in three matches, OM are in 18th place in the Champions League. Cold, De Zerbi and his players will have to admit it: that evening, they lacked maturity.
