At the Vélodrome on Sunday, the banners and chants had already found their target as Marseille’s 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain deepened a crisis that has left the club searching for answers.
The Ligue 1 news
Frank McCourt was the focus of supporters’ anger during Le Classique, but former France midfielder Jérôme Rothen believes Marseille’s American owner should not carry the blame alone.
Speaking on Tuesday, Rothen criticised McCourt for allowing previous decision-makers too much control for too long. In his view, the owner had entrusted the club to people who damaged it financially and took risks with his money.
Rothen singled out former president Pablo Longoria, questioning his silence as Marseille’s difficulties have intensified. He also argued that the club’s sporting leadership before the latest reshuffle bears major responsibility for the present situation, naming Roberto De Zerbi and Medhi Benatia.
Marseille are in the relegation places after five Ligue 1 matches and were beaten 4-1 by Besiktas in the Europa League. The poor start follows a turbulent summer in which the club faced financial problems, made no signings and saw 14 players leave.
Changes have since been made at the top of the club, with Stéphane Richard installed as president, Grégory Lorenzi appointed sporting director and Bruno Genesio taking charge as coach. Results, however, have not yet improved.
Rothen was particularly severe on the construction of the squad. He said Tim Weah was perhaps the only player he would spare from criticism, arguing that too many players on substantial wages are merely average Ligue 1-level performers rather than footballers suited to an ambitious Marseille side aiming for Champions League football.
That wage structure, Rothen said, has left the club trapped. He also warned supporters that replacing McCourt would not automatically solve Marseille’s institutional and financial problems, urging them to direct their frustration towards those responsible for sporting decisions.
Jean-Michel Larqué offered a similar assessment. He said McCourt’s principal failure had been allowing Marseille’s financial deficit to become so large before intervening, but insisted the people who approved spending and recruitment should be held chiefly accountable.
Larqué said he was astonished that Longoria had retained such support despite the current state of the club. He also delivered a warning to fans calling for McCourt’s departure: finding a new benefactor capable of injecting €800 million simply to cover the deficit would be far from certain.
His message to Marseille supporters was one of patience, despite recognising their anger. The club, he suggested, may have to endure a difficult period before it can begin to recover.
