Ligue 1: behind the scenes of Jorge Sampaoli's arrival at OM

Jorge Sampaoli has not yet his plane ticket to Marseille.

This is the last detail that remains to be resolved before his signing at OM.

The Argentine coach should arrive Sunday February 28 or Monday March 1 in the Marseille city.

He will have to observe a week of isolation and arrives with his assistants Jorge Desio and Diogo Meschine, physical trainer Pablo Fernandez and an analyst whose name has not filtered.

All must be committed until 2023.

According to an optimistic scenario, this entire staff could be on the bench against Canet (N2), in the Coupe de France, Sunday March 7.

On the sporting front, there is an emergency: Olympique de Marseille is seventh in Ligue 1. And the Argentinian is aware of landing on a minefield, in full conflict between the supporters and the management.

"South Americans are better in chaos," smiles a member of his entourage.

"He's a bit of a Bielsa, he can pull the group upwards"

The former coach of Chile (2012-2016), Sevilla FC (2016-2017) or Argentina (2017-2018) "began to analyze the Marseille team, says a member of his entourage.

Jorge is very enthusiastic about joining OM, but he is waiting to be with the players and talk to them to forge certainties.

"

The latter are also in expectation.

But the first echoes are rather favorable, even if many fear the bloody temper of the Argentine.

"Excellent news for OM, he lives football with passion and determination," said a close friend of a team member.

"It's a bit of a Bielsa, he can pull the group up with a high level of requirement," analyzes the agent of a Marseillais.

Jorge Sampaoli is indeed a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa.

Adept like him of an offensive game, he is perhaps even more angry than El Loco.

The future OM coach also spent his last match in Brazil in the stands after calling a referee a "shit thief".

What relationship with President Eyraud?

Officially, this behavior does not worry Marseille leaders, nor does the mixed results in Brazil - he left Atlético Mineiro in third place in the championship, despite significant investments.

“We were looking for a coach with a real identity,” explains an OM executive.

The supporters must feel represented in the philosophy of the coach.

He will also be able to give value to the workforce, especially to young people.

It remains to be seen whether he will manage to come to an agreement with the leaders.

“He's a boy with a lot of temperament, we slip internally.

I wonder how it will hang with Eyraud.

"

The file was fully managed by the sports director Pablo Longoria.

After realizing that it was impossible to attract Maurizio Sarri to Provence, the "head of football" made Jorge Sampaoli his priority.

He had also contacted the agents of the Argentinian even before the departure of André Villas-Boas, for a possible assumption of post this summer.

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Jorge Sampaoli will finally take over the team during the season, while Nasser Larguet has a decent record (only one defeat in six games).

The debonair director of the training center will be on the bench against Lyon on Sunday.

“But honestly, I don't know how long I'm going to stay,” he confessed.