Marseille travel to Angers on Sunday with the pressure already tightening around a season that has yet to find its first clear breath. Fourteenth in Ligue 1 and only two points above the relegation zone, OM arrive for the 15:00 kick-off carrying the weight of another European defeat.
Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Olympiacos left Marseille without a point from their opening two Europa League matches. It was another frustrating evening for a side that has often shown commitment but has repeatedly paid for its shortcomings at both ends of the pitch.
The squad has been weakened by the club’s financial difficulties, leaving Bruno Genesio with limited options as Marseille try to halt an alarming start on several fronts. The head coach nevertheless believes the current turbulence could yet serve a longer-term purpose.
Genesio calls for a lasting reset
Asked on Saturday about the ten-year period of Frank McCourt’s ownership, Genesio said Marseille must eventually recover the standards expected of a club with such history.
“I hope so,” he said when asked whether ambition could return soon. “When you are Marseille, you have to be near the top of the Ligue 1 table. You have to be ambitious in European competition, preferably in the biggest one. This club has a past and a history in Europe.”
Genesio suggested that the present crisis, affecting sporting and financial matters alike, could provide an opportunity to establish a more durable project for future seasons.
“If this difficult period can help us build foundations for a sustainable project, then it will have been worthwhile,” he added. “Sometimes failure brings an awareness that can help restore ambition, with sporting and financial policies better suited to a football club.”
Angers next as Marseille seek a response
Marseille now head to Angers for Sunday’s Ligue 1 Matchday 7 fixture, needing points as much as reassurance. Their league position leaves little room for another setback, while their European campaign has begun with two defeats from two.
The trip offers Genesio’s side an immediate chance to turn effort into a result — and to begin building the response their coach believes Marseille need.
