Evil for good. This is one of the avenues that OM players can take to bounce back after the nightmare of Bruges. Beaten 3-0 on Wednesday evening in Belgium (8th and final group day), Roberto de Zerbi’s men also owe their elimination to the improbable goal of the Benfica goalkeeper scored against Real Madrid in added time (4-2, 90th + 8).
If this exit risks leaving traces in the heads of Leonardo Balerdi and his teammates, it lightens an OM schedule that has become visibly too heavy for the current third in Ligue 1. This OM did not have the level to continue in C1, as shown by the six goals conceded in the last two matches, against Liverpool at the VĂ©lodrome (0-3) and against Club Bruges (3-0).
On the other hand, De Zerbi and his team have the potential to finish on the podium at the end of the season. They demonstrated it during the first 19 days despite a few slip-ups (Nantes, Toulouse). The success against Lens on January 24 (3-1) is part of this observation. A place in the top three on the evening of May 16 would ensure OM’s participation in the Champions League again.
Two objectives of the utmost importance
PSG eliminated to everyone’s surprise in the round of 16 at home by the PFC (0-1), opens a new opportunity for OM to finally be able to lift this trophy which has eluded them since… 1989. A podium and a Coupe de France in their hands, these are two great carrots for the Provençal club to look ahead to during the four months which separate it from the end of the season.
Roberto De Zerbi must be able to keep his squad united and motivated to achieve these two objectives. Unfortunately for the Italian technician,
his players broke down again in added time of a meeting. It was early Saturday evening on the pitch of Paris FC (2-220th day). This slippage in no way cancels the possibility of the missions to be completed.
