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Why Olympique de Marseille has reason to hope

2020-11-05T17:14:53.420Z


In great difficulty in the Champions League, Olympique de Marseille can always hope to save its season by finishing again on the podium in Ligue 1 and by qualifying for the round of 16 of the Europa League. Explanations.


“Our goal now remains to polish our image, because for now, it is ridiculous.

It is our game that must speak now. ”

André Villas-Boas was very irritated on Tuesday after the defeat of Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League on the pitch of Porto (3-0).

This setback, the third in three matches in the group stage and the club's twelfth in a row in C1, seriously reduces its chances of qualifying for the round of 16.

The Olympian season is however not included and certain elements can give reasons for hope to the Marseille club.

OM have a good start to the season in Ligue 1 in terms of accounting

Since the start of the season, Olympique de Marseille has not been flamboyant.

The Canebière club struggled in the game and encountered great difficulties in securing opportunities, even against teams considered weaker.

However, despite these problems of offensive animation and creativity, André Villas-Boas' men grab the points in the league.

They are in 5th place in Ligue 1 (15 points) with one game less against Racing Club de Lens.

In the event that they win against the promoted, they would go up to Stade Rennais (3rd, 18 points), just behind LOSC (2nd, 19 points) and only three units behind the leader, Paris Saint-Germain .

It is therefore a good start to the season in terms of accounting, especially since OM did not have a very easy schedule during their first eight days, with two difficult trips, to the Parc des Princes and to the Groupama Stadium, and with the reception of Lille;

or three confrontations (PSG, OL, LOSC) against three of the best French teams.

Against Strasbourg, this Friday, Marseille could also chain a third victory in a row and put under pressure its direct competitors.

OM's victory against Lorient

The club can still qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League

If his chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League - one of the club's stated goals - are now minimal, Olympique de Marseille can still hope to continue their European journey.

The Phocéens still have the possibility of qualifying for the Europa League but will have to show a much better face to achieve it.

The Marseillais have reason to believe it.

While Manchester City seem vastly superior to the Olympians, seeing them achieve positive results against Olympiakos and Porto does not seem unfeasible.

In Greece, OM had the opportunity to make the difference (Thauvin, Benedetto) but clearly lacked efficiency in front of goal.

Porto was certainly much better than Marseille on Tuesday, but we must not forget that the Canebière club "offered" two goals, to use the formula of André Villas-Boas, and had the opportunity to come back to score (Dimitri Payet missed his penalty) before sinking.

OM players can still believe it.

Of course, they will have to raise their level to take points and will also have to hope that the results of the other confrontations will be favorable to them.

>> READ ALSO

- The classification of the Champions League groups

Payet, Benedetto ... major players can wake up

Another source of hope, the level displayed by some major players in the workforce such as Dimitri Payet and Dario Benedetto.

The two men do not have the performance expected of them.

The Marseille attacking midfielder certainly scored an important goal against OL and offered an assist against PSG, but his performance remains insufficient.

He is supposed to be the master at playing of his team, the one who creates discrepancies, the one who provokes and generates opportunities.

However, since the start of the season, the former French international has been very discreet on the pitch and does not make any difference.

The Argentinian is also in pain.

He has not scored a single goal since the restart (he scored against Paris Saint-Germain but his achievement was unfairly denied) and seems to be losing confidence.

He goes through the matches one after the other, without succeeding in shining.

Even if they are undoubtedly partly victims of the collective bankruptcy of OM, it is certain that they have their share of responsibility for their bad start to the season.

In any case, they should not be buried.

They are two experienced players, able to react and therefore to allow the Marseille club to be more efficient offensively!

>> READ ALSO

- OM: should we be worried about Benedetto?

André Villas-Boas can find the right formula

4-3-3, 4-4-2 diamond ... Which system and which players for Olympique de Marseille?

André Villas-Boas does not seem to have found the right formula so far.

The 4-3-3 (which sometimes turns into 4-2-3-1, with a Morgan Sanson higher), set up last year, does not give satisfaction at the start of the season.

The pressure exerted in this system is lacking and the offensive play is very poor.

The diamond-shaped 4-4-2 (introduced at the start to make up for the absence of Dimitri Payet) has worked in the league during the last few meetings, but not against Porto.

In this formation, OM are better in the conservation of the ball but do not however get many more opportunities.

Positive point: the Portuguese technician is not a closed-minded coach.

He is able to experiment to find what works best for his team.

It should be remembered that it was after having set up his midfielder Kamara-Rongier-Sanson that Marseille has chained the very good results to finish on the second step of the podium in Ligue 1.

The top 5 goals of Olympique de Marseille in 2019-2020

Young people can reveal themselves

Olympique de Marseille can also count on the emergence of young players.

On its bench, OM has talent.

Pape Gueye, arrived this summer, has already shown his qualities this season, whether in the league or against Olympiakos, in the Champions League.

It brings impact, is useful in the conservation of the ball and has an excellent long game.

Michaël Cuisance, on loan from Bayern Munich, is also very interesting every time he wears the Marseille jersey.

He makes the game more fluid, moves well between the lines, gives solutions and always plays very fair;

all that OM is missing.

He must now succeed in being decisive.

Gueye and Cuisance undoubtedly have a chance to seize in the midfield, especially in a system with two torchbearers (in 4-3-3 or in 4-4-2 diamond), even if the second city can evolve a notch more high.

In front, Marley Aké - capable of playing all positions in the attack - often manages to be dangerous during his entries.

Always active, he moves well, makes deep calls, provokes and brings danger to the surface.

It can be revealed this season, after having started in the professionals last year, especially in a squad where the attackers do not particularly shine, Florian Thauvin aside.

Finally, Luis Henrique, recruited 8 million euros during the last summer transfer window and considered a great hope, has an attractive profile that the Marseille club needs.

Very fast, powerful, and nimble with the ball, he can have a few things to do.

These young people have the capacity to change the face of the Olympian team.

Read also

  • OM sinks to Porte and offers a sad record

  • The Ligue 1 ranking

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2020-11-05

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