After five wins and two draws in the preparation match, we could imagine a palpable excitement in Marseille. The recruitment of eight players despite limited financial leeway, followed by positive results punctuated by an attractive home victory against Villarreal (2-1) in front of nearly 30,000 people on July 31, would, usually, have raised a still seething city. . But no. OM supporters surprise with an unusual placidity. “They played well in preparation by intelligently turning the ball, but we will see more clearly from the first days. We lost confidence in the management last season so we will be patient, ”explain Yanis and Kamel in the blue and white jersey on their backs as they leave the OM store on the Canebière.
The previous exercise, concluded with a fifth place in Ligue 1 and the replacement during the winter of André Villas-Boas by Jorge Sampaoli, was, it is true, difficult on a sporting level. But it was, above all, marked by a clash between management and supporters. Marseille fans thus always show defiance to the address of the American owner. "
We no longer subscribe to Frank McCourt's project, adds Frédéric, a member for three seasons of the MTP supporters group (Marseille too powerful).
I still want his departure but that means destroying all the work done since the arrival of President Pablo Longoria (
Editor's note: the successor on February 26 of the unpopular Jacques-Henri Eyraud
).
It's not worth the shot.
For now, it is beautiful what he recreates even if we will really learn the lessons at the end of the season.
"
"There are a lot of questions about the recruits"
Jonathan, a former member of the Commando Ultra 84, agrees: “I'm still suspicious. Already, the workforce is lacking a lot of things like full-backs on the left and on the right and we don't have a replacement for Dimitri Payet in number 10. There are also a lot of questions about the recruits. The craze therefore mingles with mistrust in the Phocaean city. But all are still aiming for the podium synonymous with the Champions League. "We are already hoping for a good course in the Europa League because the European campaigns are part of the DNA of this club," adds Yohan, a supporter for 25 years.
Everyone is therefore waiting for the first official matches, starting this Sunday in Montpellier, where 300 fans of OM will make the short trip, impatiently to judge a team still under construction. But the supporters are eager to ignite and a series of victories in August could very quickly rekindle the flame.