OM coach André Villas-Boas spoke to the press on Wednesday. Friday, OM, 2nd, welcomes Amiens, 19th.
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“Can you give us an update on the group?
Sakai did two full workouts, Payet will resume tomorrow (Thursday), he has a small calf injury, we took precautions. He did a little shopping, we will decide tomorrow for the match. We took the opportunity to do two full days of work with Thauvin (Monday and Tuesday), today he was resting. His chances of being on the bench on Friday night are 50-50. Radonjic is still recovering.
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OM thought they would have an “easy” match against Nantes on February 22 (1-3). There, it is Amiens, the penultimate, who presents himself. How are you preparing for this match?
We used that, the last experiences at the Vélodrome: not only Nantes, but also Toulouse (1-0, February 8), a game we could have lost. We did a booster shot. Amiens is in a negative results phase, but they only lost (1-2, February 8) at home against Monaco, with goals in the last minutes, they made 4-4 against Paris-SG (February 15), then 0-0 against Strasbourg away (February 22). Obviously, they lost this last match against Metz (0-1, February 29) which puts them in a bit of trouble. But I find them good. They lost Gnahoré (loaned to China) and Mendoza, who do not play. It’s an important weekend for everyone (with Lille-Lyon and Rennes-Montpellier), we must take advantage of this opportunity.
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The big weeks of competition, with a fast paced match, are over. This is your third full week, how do you enjoy it at work?
There is no absolute relationship between training and a match. We put things in place: defensive transitions, especially at home, the reaction to the loss of ball, a little finishing. Nothing new.
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“I would like to clarify one thing, following the attacks by (Christian) Gourcuff on my words …”
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You played in 4-2-3-1 in Nîmes, amending your current 4-3-3. Could you keep this diagram?
We found a little more balance in Nîmes with this system. Our adversaries are no longer waiting for us at the Vélodrome. I would like to clarify one thing, following Gourcuff’s attacks on my words (the Nantes coach had said: “I saw that Villas-Boas said it was difficult for them because there were teams playing behind at the Vélodrome, like Nantes and Toulouse. Like what, everyone sees things according to their sensitivity and especially their position. “). I have never criticized the positioning of their team, their way of defending or attacking. I only made my observation of the match, but I did not criticize Christian Gourcuff and its implementation. He got it wrong, but there was no negative intention on my part. The teams close more with us, we have to play a little more with the ball. 4-2-3-1 gives us stability.
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OM went from best defense in Europe in the first weeks of 2020 to five goals conceded in two games, and also a lot of opportunities conceded. Do you have an explanation for this sudden lack of defensive solidity?
No, I have no explanations. These are things that can happen. Our defensive organization remains solid. After, our opponents have a role to play, they were very good, Nantes put three goals on counter attacks. We are always trying to do better, but I cannot be worried after seeing the general performance of my team in defense.
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Facing Nantes, the players of André Villas-Boas had delivered a pale copy (1-3, February 22). (F. Porcu / The Team)
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Your last home game was a party … in the stands. We all imagine you impatient to rectify the situation against Amiens, Friday.
We had an exceptional crowd against Nantes, but we played badly. Collectively, and I have my responsibility, individually … We talked about this at the end of the match. In the locker room too: we did everything to put distance with Rennes and Lille, at 11 and 12 points, and we ruin that the following weekend. We were touched. We have returned to Nîmes and I hope that we will take advantage of this opportunity.
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We talked a lot about the presence of Mbappé at the Olympics and a likely veto of Paris-SG. What about your position, when several players at OM could be affected?
We have the right to keep our players, they cannot make their decisions alone, without the agreement of their club. I respect the Olympic Games, this represents the greatest honor of sport, outside the World Cup for football. This is something that should be discussed with those selected from the final list at a three-party meeting, as it is a complicated date in the official calendar. Paris-SG has used this protection.
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Do you work especially the connections between Payet and Benedetto?
We look for deep movements when Dim (Payet) has the ball, facing the game, we know his vision. We want to take advantage of its quality. Friday, in Nîmes, he came from left to right to put this ball deep for Dario, on the second goal. He has this type of freedom in our game. The goal at Amiens or the third goal at Nimes by Benedetto are goals of intuition. It is not a worked thing, it is pure intuition.
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“I also think he got a taste for the job (sentry) “
About Boubacar Kamara
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Do you see a bright future in the middle for Boubacar Kamara, central defender by training?
David Luiz or Marquinhos are able to play without problems in both positions. I also think he got a taste for the job (sentry), that he got to know the position. So, of course, it takes twice the effort in the middle. It is well. Two in the middle, it has a little more freedom, it starts to climb, it is not ideal. I was not the first to put him in this position (this is Rudi Garcia, in the fall of 2017), but what changes is that he wants to play in this position too, finally. His performances were very good and allowed me to keep him in the middle. “
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