Marseille return to the Vélodrome on Sunday with little room left for another stumble. Bruno Genesio has accepted responsibility for OM’s uneven start, insisting that the coach must be the first to question his own methods when a team’s performance swings from one match to the next.
Marseille are 10th in Ligue 1 after seven matches, having recorded three wins and four defeats. Their European campaign has offered no relief either: OM have taken no points from their first three Europa League fixtures.
Speaking on Saturday before Le Havre’s visit, Genesio placed himself alongside his players rather than directing blame towards them. “When the behaviour changes from one game to another and you are the coach, you have to question yourself,” he said. “There is a responsibility to take. If those matches were not approached properly, perhaps my message did not get through. The first person who must ask questions about our approach is me.”
Genesio identifies costly losses of possession
Marseille had shown signs of recovery after a run of four successive defeats. League wins away to Troyes and Angers appeared to have steadied the side, before the momentum was checked by their Europa League defeat at Sturm Graz.
Genesio remains convinced that his squad have the resources to respond again, but said the coaching staff must improve the team both tactically and technically. He pointed in particular to turnovers in dangerous areas.
“Questioning yourself is part of this job; it is how I see coaching,” Genesio said. “I feel this group has ability and we have already shown that we can react. It is my duty to look at what we can improve technically and tactically. We have lost too many balls in important zones. We examine the message and our choices. That is part of our work.”
Le Havre and Toulouse offer a home route back
The meeting with Le Havre is the first of two consecutive home league games for Marseille, with Toulouse due to follow. Two victories would bring a much-needed lift in confidence and could move OM back towards the top third of the Ligue 1 table.
