With only three points on the clock after three days of Ligue 1 and an uncomfortable tenth place in the standings, Olympique de Marseille are having a very sluggish start to the season. The defeat suffered at the Vélodrome against Paris FC (3-2) – the second in a row – on Sunday shed a harsh light on the current shortcomings of Bruno Genesio’s men.
For many observers, the most alarming finding lies in physical engagement. OM stands out as the team that runs the least in the elite with only 100 kilometers covered on average, a far cry from the 114 kilometers of Stade Rennais. For Christophe Dugarry, this athletic deficit constitutes the group’s first obstacle. “Until this team realizes that it has to run and do a lot more, for me there is a margin,” he confided to the microphone of RMC.
On a collective level, the project also remains important. Between a summer transfer window marked by a significant wave of departures and the installation of a new staff, the alchemy is slow to appear. “For the moment I haven’t seen the Genesio paw. I see OM’s faults more than its qualities because things don’t happen overnight”noted the former Marseille striker.
A lack of collective identity
The team suffers from a real absence of collective identity, relying almost exclusively on isolated exploits. As Dugarry analyzes: “For the moment I see individuals: some who are getting through it and others who are sinking. I don’t see a team, it doesn’t jump out at me.”
However, is it legitimate to say that this OM has already reached its glass ceiling? Certainly not according to Dugarry, who calls for patience and puts daily work at the center of the equation. “There is still a lot of work to do so I don’t think this team has reached its limits after three games. Otherwise, what is the use of the coach, the players, the training? “, he asked himself.
If indulgence remains in order after only three outings, expectations towards Bruno Genesio remain high. Dugarry also warns that a lack of progress would be a failure: “If it’s just that, I’ll be disappointed in Genesio”. The next meetings against Rennes in the championship then against Besiktas in the Europa League should offer reassuring first answers.
