As often, the off-season has been eventful in Marseille. Jorge Sampaoli is gone, giving way to Igor Tudor. The beginnings of the Croatian technician were tumultuous, marked by failed friendly outings, a disrupted workforce and a lackluster internal atmosphere. Overview of the Marseille forces before the first match of the season, against Reims on Sunday August 7.
The objective: to stay on the podium despite a turbulent pre-season
Despite a successful season with a second place, OM cashed in early July the departure of their coach Jorge Sampaoli, unhappy with a transfer window not yet launched. His successor, Igor Tudor, has still not led a single official match, which is already disputed. The friendly results – three defeats, a draw and a victory – are messy. Above all, the atmosphere in the locker room is described as gloomy, even if the president Pablo Longoria tried to put out the fire.
“We have to trust him otherwise it will be complicated, we can’t pull us to the right and him to the left, otherwise we won’t move forward.”, launched rookie Jonathan Clauss after a setback against AC Milan. Whatever the situation behind the scenes and the identity of their coach, OM aim to do well in the Champions League and to get a second podium at the end of the season. These two scenarios have been expected for a decade in the Old Port.
Player to watch: Gerson
After a late outbreak last year, Gerson has established himself as an indisputable player in Jorge Sampaoli’s scheme (9 goals and 7 assists). In Igor Tudor’s 3-4-2-1, the Brazilian should take center stage. His role, shared with Dimitri Payet in support of the center forward, will give him real creative freedom.
It is still necessary that his relations with Igor Tudor warm up. An altercation between the two men in training last week. “A moment of annoyance, of nervousness, due to a problem of discipline”commented OM to The Team. The case buried by both parties testifies, at least, to a total involvement of the Auriverde in Marseille.
The rookie: Chancel Mbemba, figurehead of a metamorphosed defensive sector
The heavy task of guiding the Marseille defense will fall to him. Arrived free from Porto, the Congolese rock comes out of three full seasons alongside Pepe. He will be one of the few OM players to have real references in the Champions League, with 26 appearances. Positioned to the right of the three-man defense during the friendlies, he should appear with the other recruits Samuel Gigot (Spartak Moscow), while the young Isaak Touré (Le Havre) could replace them.
These massive arrivals compensate for the many departures in the defensive line. Alvaro Gonzalez (termination of contract), Luan Peres (Fenerbahçe), William Saliba (returned to Arsenal) and Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) all left OM this summer. To make matters worse, the emblematic Steve Mandanda (left for Rennes) was replaced by Rubén Blanco (Celta Vigo). This remodeled defense, anything but impermeable in preparation (nine goals conceded in five games), will have to quickly get up to speed.
The eleven type:
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