Marseille return from the international break with little room left for another false start. Five straight defeats in all competitions have dragged OM down to 17th in Ligue 1, and Sunday’s trip to Troyes has already taken on the weight of an early-season turning point.
Quick facts
- Marseille sit 17th in Ligue 1 after five consecutive losses in all competitions.
- OM face Troyes on Sunday in the final match of Ligue 1’s sixth round.
- Bruno Genesio has retained the backing of Neal Maupay and the Marseille squad.
- Maupay believes the team is improving despite results failing to follow.
- Defeat at Troyes would deepen the pressure around the club and its coach.
The campaign began with a convincing win, but Marseille have since lost their way. A difficult summer behind the scenes, compounded by a transfer window without a single signing, has left Genesio trying to steady a team already caught in the relegation places.
The coach arrived after an impressive season at Lille, carrying a strong reputation in France for improving players. Yet the difficult opening weeks at the Vélodrome created serious uncertainty before the international break, with speculation even growing around a possible resignation.
Maupay, however, has offered a clear public defence of his manager. The 30-year-old striker said Genesio remains “very positive” within the group and has not changed his approach despite the sequence of poor results.
“He does not give up and works extremely hard,” Maupay said. “Even with the results, he stays behind us, speaks to us a lot, gives us confidence and is always on the training pitch, pushing us to get better.”
The former Everton forward acknowledged the particular strain that comes with managing Marseille. Genesio is the man required to answer repeated questions in front of the media, while the team’s position has intensified every setback.
“It is difficult for him as well because, as Marseille coach, he is inevitably exposed,” Maupay said. “I can understand that he can sometimes feel disheartened and disappointed by the results. But with us, he is always positive and always working.”
Maupay also praised the staff brought in by Genesio and insisted that there are signs beneath the damaging scorelines. “We are fortunate to have him because he gives us so much confidence,” he said.
“He arrived with a staff that works very well. It may sound contradictory when the results are not there, but I feel genuine progress in the team. I hope I am not wrong, but I think we are heading in the right direction.”
Troyes now offer Marseille the chance to turn that belief into points. A victory would give OM a badly needed lift after the break; another poor result would only sharpen the doubts circling Genesio and his struggling side.
