Bruno Genesio remained sunk into the Marseille bench as the final minutes ebbed away in Istanbul, watching another difficult night take shape against Besiktas. The defeat hurt, but the OM coach was even more troubled by the way his side unravelled: too passive in key moments, too loose in possession and short of the concentration required to survive a demanding start to the season.
Marseille’s defensive failures came under sharp scrutiny after the match. Angel Gomes, who has struggled for form since the opening-game win over Strasbourg, stopped after a contact on Besiktas’ first goal despite there appearing little reason to do so. The second strike particularly angered Genesio, with his midfield bypassed quickly following an ordinary throw-in inside the Turkish half. Besiktas’ third then exposed another weakness, as Amir Murillo was allowed to rise far too freely from a corner.
The cumulative effect was an OM side that appeared to fade both physically and mentally. Genesio found the collapse difficult to take in the dressing room and again on the flight back from Turkey, having seen his team fall away after promising phases.
Genesio accepts his share of responsibility
Although he continues to have support from within the club and among Marseille supporters, Genesio admitted that the run has forced him to question his own decisions and methods.
“The coach always has a responsibility,” he said after Thursday’s game. “It would be too easy to ask myself what kind of mess I have walked into. That would not help us make progress. Naturally, I have to take a hard look at myself too. Since the Strasbourg match, we have not managed to fix this team’s mistakes.”
His immediate focus is now the meeting with Paris Saint-Germain. Before that match, Genesio believes Marseille must recover their energy and preserve unity between the squad, coaching staff and everyone around the club. “That solidarity is important,” he warned.
The international break will then offer a longer opportunity for an internal assessment. Genesio has been left frustrated by the circumstances of his arrival, having gradually realised that the club’s situation was more complicated than he had expected. He had hoped for three or four additional signings, notably a goalkeeper, a midfielder and an attacking player, and still wants a clear statement from the owner regarding Marseille’s position and reduced ambitions, at least for this campaign.
Yet there is also defiance in the coach’s response. Marseille have been handed a punishing early sequence of fixtures, facing Monaco, Paris FC, Rennes, Besiktas and now PSG. Genesio has previously noted that several members of his squad are not accustomed to repeated high-intensity matches of that kind.
A chance to reset after PSG
The schedule should ease after the break, at least on paper. Ligue 1 trips to Troyes and Angers, followed by the visit of Le Havre, offer Marseille a possible route back towards steadier ground.
The pause will also be crucial for the physical work at the training ground. OM have repeatedly dropped off around the hour mark, with cramp affecting several players, and the staff see that decline as a serious concern.
Questions will inevitably grow if Marseille lose again to PSG, with some supporters and observers wondering whether another setback could test Genesio’s resolve. Those close to the coach insist he has no intention of walking away. The players remain appreciative of him, the hierarchy still expects him to lead the response, and Genesio is determined to carry the responsibility of a difficult Marseille assignment rather than retreat from it.
