This was the only uncertainty in Roberto De Zerbi’s team composition. If due to the numerous absences, there was no doubt regarding the defense or the attacking trio, it was quite different in midfield where four players seemed to be competing for the two places alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
But in the mind of the Italian technician, there were ultimately five. Because rather than Geoffrey Kondogbia, Matt O’Riley or Angel Gomes, the Marseille coach chose to start Darryl Bakola, only 17 years old. And if he seemed disrupted at the end of the first period by the crude simulation of which he was guilty and which earned him a yellow card, the native of Clichy succeeded in his baptism, even delivering an assist on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equalizer after returning from the locker room.
Questioned at a press conference, RDZ did not fail to pay tribute to his young player. “ It’s a great evening, especially for Bakola, who showed courage and personality, even after a few mistakes,” he confided after congratulating himself on the great performance of his men.
“I felt it was a good evening for Bakola”
“It was a risk, but necessary, he explained.
Sometimes you have to dare. You know, players are not like apricots: they only ripen while playing. The Vélodrome is a generous stadium with young people from the center, and they supported him this evening, even in his mistakes. »
And the Olympian coach to justify his choice. “I preferred to play him rather than Angel Gomes, for physical reasons. Faced with high pressure from Newcastle, his size and his ability to protect the ball could help us,” he said, adding: “I simply asked him to play like in the park with his friends, without pressure. »
“There are things that I feel, I trust my instinct. I felt it was a good evening for Bakola, I felt that a little mental lightness was needed, he insisted. If the coach fields a 17-year-old player, it proves that he has courage. I could give this courage to others with this choice. The technical aspect of the match that I had prepared needed the characteristics of Bakola, more than those of O’Riley who is left-handed, more than Gomes. I had thought of Greenwood in 10 and Weah right winger, but Aguerd was not there. It was right to put Bakola. »
