André Villas-Boas has got into the habit of repeating his little song before each of the press conferences that precede a shock against Paris Saint-Germain. However, “The billion and a half euros of investments“separating the club from the capital QSI version of its rival Marseille is a leitmotif which perhaps does not reflect all the thinking of the Portuguese. From the start of his coaching career, AVB has seen for himself that the money was not everything, and above all he did not buy ideas, which are essential from an economic and sporting point of view.
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But on the ground, OM seem to lack it for a long time. The observation was again obvious last Saturday, when the Marseille club returned empty-handed or almost from a trip to Dijon (0-0) as part of the 19th day of Ligue 1.
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In fact, he made his way from the start of the season, even before Florian Thauvin ended up saying out loud what many were thinking quietly, on the evening of another draw against Reims (1-1 ). “We have possession of the ball but we only play sideways or backwards, confided the best Olympian player before the holidays, at the microphone of Telefoot. We don’t take any risks, there aren’t enough movements. There are too many things wrong.”
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“We couldn’t do much because they were shutting down the game, Villas-Boas had replied, who did not share his player’s opinion. But obviously when key players like him and Payet can’t find the spaces, they get frustrated..”
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This lack of creativity however largely reinforces the impression that OM does not quite master its subject. And that it will be very difficult for him to be a serious candidate for the title despite his position (6th at eight points from OL) and his two games late, or an opponent capable of causing problems for Paris Saint-Germain during of the Champions Trophy this Wednesday (9 p.m.).
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The subject is central since it is at the heart of the various problems encountered by the Marseille technician. Starting with the effectiveness of his striker, Dario Benedetto, widely questioned in recent weeks. The Argentinian striker’s share of responsibility exists but it is also shared: the Marseille team water much less its point in exploitable balloons.
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Since the start of the season, she has averaged just eight key passes – assists leading to a scoring opportunity – per game. Twelve Ligue 1 teams are doing better in this area. Last season, OM were the best of the rest behind Paris Saint-Germain.
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Neither Payet nor the others
These evils are also and above all linked to the lack of impact of certain individuals whose role is precisely to find breaches. This is why Villas-Boas is trying by all means to revive Dimitri Payet, and keeps repeating that OM “needs him at a top level“. In his best form, the French international is capable of transfiguring the game of his team by passing, dribbling or his natural movements from the left to the axis.
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So far, the alternative solutions have not been convincing. Sometimes aligned to the post of playmaker, Mickaël Cuisance has often lacked ambition. Pape Gueye and Valentin Rongier are much more comfortable in a runner register, even if the former Le Havre is progressing in the game forward. Morgan Sanson, injured, has not played since December 12.
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Dimitri Payet in the midst of Reims players
Credit: Getty Images
And to surprise Paris Saint-Germain once again, four months after their victory at the Parc, not sure that the aggressiveness and intensity are enough this time: “We have to gain in depth“, rightly underlined Villas-Boas Monday. How the Marseillais could achieve it? It is still a mystery.”You can’t buy creativity at the drugstore“said the Portuguese in November 2019. More than a year later, it is still not on sale.
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