Three days before the end of the transfer window, Pablo Longoria does not have time to respond to the compliments.
When asked what he thinks of his popularity rating, the OM football director dodges: “I'm doing my job.
It is at the end of the season that we judge a transfer window.
The 34-year-old Spanish leader, appointed this summer, is the only one to escape the deleterious climate that reigns in Marseille.
OM, sixth in Ligue 1, are eleven points behind Lyon, third with one game less.
This sporting crisis does not prevent Marseille from achieving a promising winter transfer window.
"He is discreet, hard worker, he meets the needs of the team and tries to satisfy the supporters, gets carried away Léo
(Editor's note: his first name has been changed, at his request)
, member of the Fanatics.
In short, he's the perfect man for the moment.
But beware: in Marseille, we love very quickly, but we hate even faster!
The hyperactivity of the former sports director of Valencia, passed by Atalanta, Sassuolo and Juventus, pleases the supporters.
"He has ideas, it changes us from Andoni Zubizarreta", appreciates Marwen, inserted in Commando Ultra 84.
The Ultras and the Fanatics could again mobilize on the sidelines of OM-Rennes, this Saturday, but they will not attack the new sports director, in full "hype".
“We will continue to put pressure on Jacques-Henri Eyraud,” Marwen continues.
Because we know in Marseille that the fish rots through the head.
“André Villas-Boas also annoys the Marseillais a lot.
He confirmed this Friday in these terms that he would leave OM in June: “I think that will be the end […].
We are fifteen points from Paris
(Editor's note: thirteen, in fact)
, an abysmal distance from the objectives.
Next year will be year zero, a total cleanup.
"
"Longoria seeks to ensure the sustainability of the project"
Longoria will have to rebuild the club: it will be necessary to recruit new staff and many players.
Ten of them, including Florian Thauvin and Jordan Amavi, expire in June.
He intends to take the opportunity to change the identity of OM's game.
During a meeting with supporters, he promised “speed, verticality, acceleration.
This is the historic way of playing football in Marseille.
A necessarily attractive speech.
“We talk about football, finally, smiles Mathieu, member of the South Winners.
Rudi Garcia and Andoni Zubizarreta recruited in their thirties to win straight away.
Longoria seeks to ensure the sustainability of the project.
The signing of the Polish international Arkadiusz Milik, 26, is, for many observers, the biggest blow achieved by a French club during this lackluster winter transfer window.
“He is a class above Ligue 1, judge Guillaume, constant follower of OM.
We didn't think we could position ourselves on a player of this caliber.
As for Pol Lirola, he's a modern, creative side.
And Longoria managed to get rid of the balls that no longer brought anything sporting.
"
Kostas Mitroglou was thus released from his contract and Kevin Strootman was loaned to Genoa - but OM continue to pay half of his salary.
Longoria also managed to sell Morgan Sanson for around € 15million to Aston Villa.
He is now trying to find him, urgently, a successor.
What to dig even more his dark circles.
They are the ransom of his popularity with fans.
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