An ecstatic Vélodrome, a euphoric communion and an almost perfect score: on February 8, 2023, OM qualified for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France at the expense of a groggy PSG.
Almost a year to the day later, the fever subsided.
At the end of another poor performance at home, against Metz (1-1), the Vélodrome emptied itself into virtual anonymity, only shaken by a few whistles and acerbic banners (“Nice words since July for a fiasco from February... Now shut up and act" among the Ultras, "Don't forget that wearing this jersey is an opportunity, honoring it is a duty! So get moving!!!" for the Fanatics or "Be men , keep your word!” at the Dodger's).
🥶 The whistles of the Vélodrome, disappointed once again with the result obtained from his team. #OMFCM pic.twitter.com/JNKiOaagGM
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) February 9, 2024
From August to February, seven months of setbacks
At the start of 2024, the time for celebration is no longer over: OM is stagnating - five matches without success in L1 - and a series of insipid outings, causing ambient disenchantment.
The enthusiasm of the last two seasons under Jorge Sampaoli (2nd) then Igor Tudor (3rd) has given way to a general weariness where the faithful no longer recognize themselves in their team.
Arranged in 4-3-3 or 3-5-2, the Marseillais do not succeed - lack of talent and character for some, excess individualism and clumsiness for others -: the transplant has not taken since August and yet another staff upheaval orchestrated by President Pablo Longoria - 29 movements this summer, 37 if we add this winter.
The off-season was a failure, we recognize internally, shared between bad choices of players (departures of Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Sanchez Ünder, Payet; arrivals of Correa, Sarr, Ndiaye, etc.), coach (Marcelino) and a truncated physical preparation.
The ax falls with the elimination against Panathinaikos during the preliminary round of the C1, the beginning of the problems or the end according to the most pessimistic.
Gradually, the season took a bad turn and the famous meeting of September 18 between the leaders of the ultra groups and the Directorate sounded the death knell: Marcelino packed up, accompanied by the director of football Javier Ribalta and the director of strategy and development Pedro Iriondo (mid-January).
For his part, Pablo Longoria, very marked at the time, also thought about leaving but chose to stay.
Publicly, the players admit to not being impacted but the problem is deeper, between absent management and the emergency tandem Jacques Abardonado - David Friio (today at OL) overwhelmed.
In the locker room, the atmosphere is good, perhaps too good: there is a lack of leaders capable of rallying the troops.
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The Europa League as an escape
The appointment of Gennaro Gattuso at the end of September does not change much.
Despite his combativeness, the Italian is struggling tactically, cannot find the right formula and his speech becomes more muscular over the months.
From now on, the former Milan no longer spares his men and multiplies the barbs, sometimes in a disillusioned or blasé tone.
The month of December was a small improvement with four consecutive victories in the Championship but it was followed by a failed start to the year (three draws and a defeat in L1, elimination against Rennes in the Coupe de France).
And the lack of summer anticipation in the face of the numerous absences linked to injuries (Rongier, Correa, Kondogbia, Veretout) and especially at the CAN (Mbemba, Harit, Ounahi, Sarr, Gueye, Ndiaye) does not help anything.
In front of the press, Gattuso talks about the importance of details which ultimately seem too big to be reduced to simple circumstances.
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“We can talk about a mini-crisis at the moment because it’s been five games without a victory.
When you wear the OM jersey, you can't think of those 4th, 5th or 6th places.
What we have to do now is really think and perform as a group, not thinking about individuals,” points out the former Napoli coach, who has the worst record in 15 matches. of L1 (21 points) since José Anigo in 2014. Pau Lopez assumes: “Even in this difficult situation, I believe that we are capable of changing all that because we have already shown it.
But you have to start getting started because otherwise it will be too late.
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Not necessarily dropped in the ranking - 7th, six points off the podium -, OM uses the Coué method but the means as it stands appear very thin to raise the bar.
The double confrontation against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-offs (go to Hamburg on February 15 at 6:45 p.m., return on the 22nd to Marseille at 9 p.m.) may be a light in the storm.
Under penalty of experiencing a very long end to the 2023-2024 financial year as was the case under Michel during a very dull 2015-2016 season.