Marseille will walk into Sunday night’s Classique without two midfield options, but Bruno Genesio has no intention of treating Paris Saint-Germain’s visit to the Vélodrome as a foregone conclusion. With Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadi still unavailable for the 20:45 Ligue 1 kick-off, the OM coach believes his side can rise above its recent late-game frailties in front of its home crowd.
Genesio will not alter his tactical shape simply because PSG are coming to town. He has revisited Marseille’s 22 September 2025 victory over Paris at the Vélodrome, when OM used a five-man defensive line, and also considers the 3-1 win over Lens on 24 January 2026 among the previous season’s strongest displays.
But he stressed that the earlier Classique cannot be copied directly. Five of the Marseille players who started that winning match left during the summer, changing the personnel available to him now.
No change of system planned
For Genesio, Marseille’s issue is not principally their formation. He pointed to encouraging spells in the 1-0 defeat at Rennes and the 4-1 loss to Besiktas in Istanbul, saying his team matched two ambitious, heavily strengthened opponents for roughly 50 to 55 minutes in each game.
The problem came later, when the structure and composure slipped. Genesio said several factors were involved: his methods are different from those some players have known in recent years, while others are only now encountering the demands of elite-level football.
He also identified a psychological weakness. Marseille are comfortable when controlling proceedings, he said, but can abandon basic principles when an unexpected setback disrupts the match. That can lead to rushed decisions, impatience in possession and imbalances that stronger opposition exploit.
“When we are on top and have control, things generally go well,” Genesio said. “But when something goes wrong, we can lose our bearings. We hurry, the team becomes stretched, and quality opponents punish that.”
Genesio draws on Manchester City memory
Despite Marseille’s recent difficulties after the hour mark, the coach insisted that major fixtures can defy form and expectation. He recalled taking Lyon to Manchester City in the Champions League in September 2018, shortly after a poor 1-1 draw at Caen in which Lyon failed to win despite playing against 10 men.
Expectations were bleak before the trip to England, yet Lyon won 2-1 on 19 September 2018. Genesio said that experience remains a reminder that football does not always follow the predicted script.
“These are special matches,” he said. “We are at home, and this squad has pride. With our supporters behind us, we can make up for some of the weaknesses seen in the final half-hour of the last two games. We can raise our level for the full 90 minutes.”
Genesio expects a far sharper PSG than the side that made a sluggish opening to the league campaign. He believes the visitors will resemble the version seen in the Champions League and agreed with the idea that they remain the leading contenders for the title.
Respect for Luis Enrique
The Marseille manager also offered support for Luis Enrique, who has faced criticism despite working with a different squad and having been able to recruit. Genesio described the Spaniard as one of Europe’s finest coaches and said expectations can become unreasonable, even for teams with outstanding players.
He noted that winning two consecutive Champions League titles is exceptionally difficult, regardless of resources or talent. Coaching brings pressure and criticism, he added, but it remains a profession rooted in passion.
“There are far worse jobs than ours,” Genesio said. “Sometimes you take blows, but that is part of the role.”
He had no tactical advice for Luis Enrique ahead of the Vélodrome meeting, apart from a light-hearted wish that the PSG coach should remain as he is — particularly in press conferences, which Genesio said he enjoys.
