Olympique de Marseille have always been an offensive team, but they have also had great defenders.
And the list of impassable defenders, which includes Basile Boli (author of the goal that gave the club its only European championship in the final against Milan in 1993), Carlos Mozer, Laurent Blanc, Eric Di Meco and Gabriel Heinze, could have a new member: Luan Peres, the defender who has just arrived from Santos.
His takeoff with his new club was not easy. He scored a goal against in his debut against Montpellier, he was one of the players attacked by Nice fans who invaded the pitch, forcing the match to be suspended, and robbers robbed his home.
“It was tough, especially after the robbery,” Luan Peres said. “It affected me and my wife. As for Nice, it was the first time something like this happened to me. We all go through difficult times, but the club has supported me a lot and everything is in the past ”.
A tall and fast player, Peres recovered from those setbacks and soon became a mainstay behind coach Jorge Sampaoli, along with Leonardo Balerdi and William Saliba.
The Brazilian is good at hand-to-hand, works well and has a great vision of the game, which makes him one of the players who intercepts the most balls in the French league. He also contributes to attack with precise passing and a tendency to climb with the ball at the feet.
His versatility is a great contribution to Sampaoli, who had him under his command for a short time at Santos and forced him to sign him despite a failed stint in Bruges on his first experience in Europe.
Left-handed center back who can also play as a left back, he adapts well to the system changes that Sampaoli makes.
“Sampaoli has a style similar to the one he used in Brazil. He likes to play with three centrals and when he uses four in the rear, I cover the left side, “he said. “He hasn’t changed much, but he improved his tactics, he adapted to the European style.”
With 13 points from five games, Marseille has had its best start to the season in nearly a decade and is second, two points behind leader Paris Saint Germain. On Wednesday they will face Angers.
Sampaoli, who arrived at the club in March, is imposing an offensive style but managed to put together a solid defense. Only Nice has fewer goals against.
When asked if Neymar, Messi and Mbappé’s PSG can fight for the championship, Sampaoli responds, “Of course it is possible.”
“PSG is a great team, but it is not invincible. We also have a great team. If we keep playing well and stay focused, we can be in the fight. And in the two games against them we will have to be up to the task ”.
–
