“The excitement.
» Here is the word chosen by Jean-Louis Gasset to describe what convinced him to sign for Olympique de Marseille.
After confirming this Tuesday the departure of Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Marseille club formalized the arrival of the French coach.
He held his first press conference in the afternoon.
“I was contacted on Sunday around 11:30 p.m.,” revealed Jean-Louis Gasset.
Shortly after Marseille's defeat in Brest, the new runner-up to PSG in the championship (1-0).
“I was given the night to think.
It was very brief.
I want to end my life with no regrets and this challenge is one of the greatest to take on.
» Perhaps also one of the hardest.
OM, ninth in Ligue 1, have not won a single match since their 32nd final of the Coupe de France against Thionville on January 7 (1-0).
Olympique de Marseille announces the signing of 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 as coach ✍️ 🔵 ⚪️
— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) February 20, 2024
However, Jean-Louis Gasset was not frightened by the scale of the task.
He claimed to have already succeeded with weaker groups.
“No one is asking me to do the impossible.
We need to have a good run in the European Cup.
First against Shakhtar who are a good team despite difficulties
(
2-2
in the round of 16 first leg of the Europa League on February 15)
.
In the championship, we must find a more attractive place than ninth.
It seems to me within the ropes if everyone makes sacred union.
»
The new OM coach also called on Olympian fans to remain hopeful.
Pablo Longoria, the president of the club, supported these words: “The institution must restore hope.
But it is the actions that allow a message to be transmitted.
We have to bring our supporters back with us.
» The Spanish leader has assumed responsibility for the Marseille entity in the instability at the coaching position in recent months.
For him, a new “methodology” must be put in place to sustain the team’s sporting performances.
“I’m loving the moment”
But Jean-Louis Gasset currently only has a four-month contract, until the end of the season.
“I live in the moment,” said the coach.
I was asked to live a bet, I will try to win this bet.
As my little ones say, I'm loving the moment.
» Pablo Longoria affirmed that the Frenchman was also his choice, and not only that of Stéphane Tessier, the general director of OM.
“So why try to divide us?
It’s not fair,” questioned the Spaniard.
Jean-Louis Gasset has also already met the Marseille group: “I think the players were surprised that I told everyone an anecdote, a little thing or the fact that I called them by their first name.
My overall message was to tell them to open their eyes.
There needs to be awareness.
» The 70-year-old Frenchman also brushed aside questions about his age: “It's the mind that is important.
»
Read alsoLigue 1: Brest, Benatia, Gattuso, Gasset… story of 24 hours under high tension at OM
The former Ivory Coast coach spoke of his departure at the end of the CAN group stage.
After a defeat against Equatorial Guinea (4-0), he resigned, and his deputy, Émerse Faé, led the group to the coronation.
“I knew I had injured players and I thought resigning was the best solution.
The sequel proved me right.
Émerse Faé took over the team.
I feel unfinished but I made the right decision.
»