With one victory and five draws in their last eight matches in all competitions, and only one goal scored in their last three meetings, OM are in dire straits.
The fireworks against Lorient (4-1) on October 17, for the opening of a series of five meetings in two weeks, would it have been a flash in the pan?
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"
We always expect more, but these matches, we could also have lost them
", put in perspective Friday Jorge Sampaoli, after the draws on the ground of Lazio Rome in the Europa League (0-0), at the Vélodrome during the classic against Paris SG (0-0) and in Troyes on Wednesday against Nice (1-1) for the replayed match of the third day, interrupted in August by the invasion of the field by supporters at the Allianz-Riviera. "
The results are often linked to small details, but we also had a busy schedule, with a lot of tension, against good teams,
" insisted the Argentinian technician.
Having started with a fanfare this season, OM (4th, 19 pts) especially marked time offensively: not taking into account the match against Lorient, the Olympians have only scored three goals since September 22.
A dearth which paradoxically was accentuated with the return of Milik, scorer only against the Merlus.
"Adapt to your game"
Optimistic, Sampaoli recalls that the Polish international saw a goal canceled for a tiny offside against PSG, that one of his heads against the same Parisians came close to Keylor Navas' goal, and that he still had a great opportunity against Nice on Wednesday: "
The scorers, it sometimes depends on the moments, but the team must attack more, (...) it would be necessary to have the ball more time, to be more time in the opposing camp
".
A supporter of attacking football, “
El Pelado
” knows that his striker (9 goals in 15 League matches last season) is not yet in top form.
"
Milik is back after a major injury, he will still need time,
" tempered the Argentinian.
But it is also the Marseille game system that remains to be installed, with a now privileged 3-2-4-1 and the Polish striker alone at the forefront.
“
It was important for us to get him back, but it's true that the team must offer him more situations that adapt to his game,
” insisted the Olympian coach: “
But it will take a little time, he could not prepare with the group
”.
Problem: Dimitri Payet, on a cloud since the start of the season, with already six goals scored, accuses repeatedly matches.
Valentin Rongier the metronome, now installed in his role of sentry, but preserved against Nice, could still be missing on Sunday, victim of a small injury.
And the players on the bench seem for some far from the required level.
Read alsoDimitri Payet, statistics at the service of the game
"
Our workforce does not allow us to leave players exclusively in certain positions, they must be able to evolve in different positions,
" confirmed Sampaoli to justify his confusing system in 3-5-2 against Nice.
Result: players confused for almost half time, and an almost happy draw in the end.
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