It’s an episode that quite annoyed Marseille supporters last month. Hit in a thigh during the France Espoirs team’s match against Slovenia on September 6 (1-1), Quentin Merlin then thought he was suffering from a simple crutch and even participated in the Bleuets’ second match, four days later, against Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-0). But the injury to the left side (22 years old) actually turned out to be more serious than expected. As a result, the former darling of Beaujoire missed the following four OM matches (against Nice, Lyon, Strasbourg and Angers).
“He was at 100% of his means”
Guest of Generation After this Wednesday on RMC, the Espoirs coach, Gérald Baticle, explained the subject. “He played the first match (against Slovenia) and ended up with a bandage above the knee after taking a double blow to the lower quadriceps. He had treatment the next day, a very slight recovery the day after, and the day before the match (against Bosnia) he did a full session, we spoke with the doctor and with him. He was at 100% and so he played,” said the one who took over. of Thierry Henry, of whom he was the deputy, at the head of the Espoirs.
“He came off at the end of the match not because of a problem but because we were leading 2-0. He had a good rally. There was a problem with his shot at one point but we didn’t not detected an injury that could have been treated The integrity of the players is always the priority, we like to get them back in shape and see him on the side is handicapping for Marseille and for us,” added Baticle. Before getting injured, Merlin took part in all of the first three Ligue 1 matches played by OM, finding a place in Roberto De Zerbi’s system.
Original article published on RMC Sport
