Amid Marseille’s bleak opening weeks, Keyliane Abdallah has offered a small but vivid sign of life. The 20-year-old right winger, raised in the club’s culture, has seized an opportunity created by a thin squad and is determined to keep his feet on the ground while OM search for a way out of trouble.
The move
Abdallah returned to Marseille this season after a loan spell in Spain’s third division with Tarragona. With OM unable to make summer signings because of major financial restrictions, the academy product impressed during pre-season and quickly earned the trust of coach Bruno Genesio.
He is now Marseille’s 11th most-used outfield player, having accumulated 203 minutes. His breakthrough began with a goal in the 4-0 Ligue 1 win over Strasbourg at the start of the campaign, before he scored again in Istanbul during the 4-1 Europa League defeat to Besiktas two weeks ago.
The winger said he was pleased with what he had brought to the team, insisting that he gives everything and wants to continue improving without becoming carried away. His first goal at the Vélodrome, he said, felt like a dream realised at the club that trained him and has always been close to his heart.
Whether he starts or is used from the bench, Abdallah says he wants to contribute. He has also praised Genesio’s approach, describing the coach as close to his players and open in his communication with both the squad and his staff.
Key Ligue 1 figures
- Keyliane Abdallah — Marseille winger, 20
- Bruno Genesio — Marseille coach
- Toifilou Maoulida — former forward and Abdallah’s uncle
The French season around it
Abdallah’s personal progress has come against a far darker backdrop for Marseille. OM sit 17th in Ligue 1 and have lost their last five matches in all competitions, leaving supporters increasingly concerned.
The young winger believes the team’s starts have often been encouraging, but says Marseille have struggled to maintain their level after the hour mark. He sees positive elements in their performances, however, and believes there is still time for the group to respond through work.
“Nobody is holding back in this squad,” Abdallah said, addressing doubts around the team’s difficult run.
Marseille return from the international break with an away match at Troyes on 11 October. For Abdallah and a side stuck near the bottom of the table, it is a game that has taken on major importance.
