It’s time for self-criticism for Medhi Benatia. Retired from his duties as director of football and sports advisor at Olympique de Marseille, the former Moroccan international spoke at length on the Canal Football Club set about his time with Ciel et Blanc, taking a lucid and uncompromising look at his record and the current situation of the Marseille club.
Considering the ambitions displayed at the start of the season last year, and the final fifth place, synonymous with non-qualification for the Champions League, it can only be a failure, according to the former Turin player. “Last year, we made a squad, we all thought we would finish top 2, we screwed up. We finished 5th in Ligue 1, we did not achieve the goal of qualifying for the Champions League,” he conceded.
Asked about the climate of tension and the growing incomprehension with Olympian supporters, the ex-manager did not look for excuses but intends to defend his work. “The 10 or 15 years of famine, it’s our fault, I understoodhe whispered. But all I know is that from the first day to the last, I gave everything for the club. That’s why I’m here talking about football because I know I can look at myself in the mirror, I’ve never cheated for this club.”
“You have to be patient and forgiving”
Faced with criticism regarding the explosion in the wage bill and the economic impact on the club, the former Bayern Munich defender was keen to put things in their decision-making context. According to him, taking financial risks responded to a shared desire to be immediately competitive at the highest level.
“If you want quality, if you want to play matches like against Real Madrid, against PSG and try to secure a second place, you have to have a mix of experienced and quality players. We did all this with the coach, who agreed and it was always validated by the people above. There is no such thing as a coach or sports director with the checkbook.”
Looking back on the last summer transfer window marked by the demands of Financial Fair Play and the drastic decisions of shareholder Frank McCourt (“after 10 years of deficit, I think he decided to turn off the taps”), Benatia recounted the complexity of certain sales essential to lighten the accounts. He illustrated this puzzle through the transfer of Luis Henrique to Inter Milan or the negotiations around Mason Greenwood. “Selling in an unfavorable position? It’s still difficult, he explained. When we sell Luis Henrique to Inter and we are forced to sell him for financial fair play, I am not calm before seeing Ausilio. »
Furthermore, he was delighted that OM was able to retain key elements like Amine Gouiri or Igor PaixĂŁo despite the financial pressure of the end of summer.“Fortunately the supporters and the coach managed to make themselves heard, he emphasized. After telling you that they will have to sell before June 30, I don’t know. It depends on the shareholder to also put a little out of their pocket.”
While Olympique de Marseille is off to a very difficult start in the championship under the orders of Bruno Genesio (13th place and series of three consecutive defeats after four days), Medhi Benatia advocates patience and serenity. He considers this 2026-2027 campaign as a necessary year of transition. “The squad is smaller this season with a great coach, he assured. If we manage to keep calm in the club, to be aligned in communication… Genesio is the top coach that OM could have this summer. You have to be patient and forgiving.”
