With only three points on the clock halfway through, Olympique de Marseille no longer had a choice. The Ciel et Blanc were in fact obliged to win against Newcastle on Tuesday to maintain their chances of qualifying for the Champions League play-offs.
If the Magpies’ away record since the start of the season gave cause for optimism, the meeting could hardly have started worse for Roberto De Zerbi’s troops. Amorphous at the start of the match, the Marseillais were in fact surprised from the 6e minute by Barnes. OM would quickly get their heads back on track and after wasting numerous opportunities after returning from the locker room, five minutes would be enough for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to turn everything around after returning from the locker room.
OM could be relieved and for Daniel Riolo, this victory is crucial for the rest of the Olympians’ season. “I was told several times this year that there had been benchmark matches for OM. No, I think it’s now, it’s tonight.” he explained at the microphone of RMC.
Increased confidence
“You were in the cellar and you still went back up to the first floor, he continued. If tonight’s match doesn’t give you confidence in what you are capable of doing, at a time when the Champions League seemed to be burning under your skin… Given what you did there, if that doesn’t give you confidence, too bad for you. But I think it will give them confidence and they needed that. »
“They needed a good match in terms of content, an end to the match with fear where they had to throw the ball… An end to the match with a fight, the fight is important, he added, adding: “Suddenly, they unlocked themselves mentally. It’s the confidence that this team is missing. She doesn’t believe enough in what she is capable of doing. I think this match can unlock them. Now we have to make the playoffs, we have to do it, we have to go, we have to continue. »
