"We will say that these last days have been eventful", smiles Steve Mandanda.
A no-brainer… Eight days ago, the Commandery was taken over by angry supporters.
Tuesday, André Villas-Boas slammed the door.
All against a backdrop of anti-Eyraud sling and mediocre results, with only one small victory over the last ten matches, in all competitions (1 victory, 3 draws, 6 defeats).
"It's been an accumulation for quite some time," confirms the international goalkeeper tricolor (34 sel.) Of 35 years.
And to add, when asked if he is armored after 12 seasons at OM: “We are always surprised because what happened (January 30) was a first!
I have known meetings, whistles, criticism, but it has always remained reasonable.
There, we have taken a step forward.
I hope that we will find peace of mind because for the club, the supporters and us, the players, this is not a good thing.
We are aware that it starts from the results.
But we don't have to come to that.
Once again, the objective today is to find a lot of serenity and appeasement within the club. "
"We must stand up and be united, players, management and supporters, so that OM regain a certain image"
Steve mandanda
Serenity and appeasement, words that Mandanda repeated over and over during this pre-match press conference on Friday.
Moreover, it is no coincidence that it is him that the club has chosen.
When the boat rocks, Mandanda is sent to the front.
This is once again what the former Havais set out to do, singing the praises of the McCourt-Eyraud tandem in passing and calling for unity.
“We have to stand up and be united, players, management and supporters, so that OM regain a certain image.
We are all responsible, the players for the results, the supporters for what they have shown.
We have reached a catastrophic point but we still have the possibility of calming, discussing and appeasing things, ”he insists, not failing to stress that everything would be simpler if the results followed.
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Mandanda firefighter on duty in front of the microphones, but also in a fragmented locker room.
If the OM has a "group of professionals, which has character", some dissensions are open secrecy.
One thinks of the bickering between Florian Thauvin and Dimitri Payet, a conflict that “AVB” found interesting to throw in the media for food, only contributing to blow on the embers and to whet the appetite of journalists.
Larguet while waiting for Sampaoli?
A communication error, not the first for the Portuguese technician, overall less inspired for his second season on the Olympian bench.
The Champions League also tarnishes the record of the "Special Two", nevertheless appreciated in Marseille, in the locker room and by Mandanda.
“It doesn't change what I think of the coach, humanly and technically,” he says.
He is someone I really appreciate, who has given us a lot, he has done a lot for us.
Me, like many in the locker room, we were disappointed with his departure.
Now it is also the community that wants that.
There are things that happened between him and management.
It's a shame it ends like this because he's someone I appreciate, that I love very much. "
His successor is not yet known, even if the Spanish press has (a little quickly?) Mentioned an agreement with Jorge Sampaoli.
In the meantime, it is Nacer Larguet acting as interim.
The boss of the training center is assisted in particular by a certain Laurent Spinosi, former coach of OM goalkeepers and much appreciated by Steve Mandanda.
“Paris? It's still a football match and 11 guys on the pitch ”
Steve mandanda
Which Steve Mandanda will have to use all his know-how to help his team mentally, but also on the ground thanks to his qualities as a goalkeeper.
And it will not be too much this Sunday (9 p.m.), because it is not just any opponent who comes to the Vélodrome: PSG and its constellation of stars.
To hope to repeat the performance of the first leg, OM will have to count on a Mandanda as brilliant as at the Parc des Princes (1-0 victory, the first against PSG since 2011).
“It's still a football match and 11 guys on the field, he promises, will play his 29th Classic, record.
They are widely favored.
But it's up to us to be 100%, to make as few mistakes as possible and to make the best use of the opportunities that we will have when we have the ball.
It's an important game for the club, the supporters.
We must give the maximum to come out with zero regret. "
One thing is certain: if that would not solve all the pitfalls of the moment, a success against the hated rival would not hurt ...
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