I can imagine the passion with which the Olympique de Marseille fans welcomed the decisive match against Tottenham on Tuesday. OM coach Igor Tudor called the event “the match of the year”. The French club, having overcome its curse of losing games in the qualifying round for the Champions League, was three points from entering the knockout stage of the Champions League, three points from that draw that defines the great Europeans of all season.
The match had everything you could ask for in a historic duel and Olympique qualified sometimes for the Europa League, sometimes in the hype of the Champions League, now back in the Europa League, and at the last minute, all ‘last breath, when the other match of his group, between Sporting and Eintracht, was already over, and the Europa League was assured, the legend of a volcanic stadium led Marseille to focus on Hugo Lloris’ goal to continue in the best European competition.
After all, what could happen if the British defended themselves on their backs and the energy of the stands blew the candles of those at home. And right there, in a second of doubt, between attacking to win or holding the ball to equalize and giving up what I dreamed all night, right there came a passing error, a brilliant counter-attack and the goal from Hojbjerg that he scored. win Tottenham and left OM out of any European competition, out of the big dream and the chance to reprint, perhaps, the 2018 epic in Europe on Thursday.
A minute and the whole European showcase out, a minute when you touched it, felt it, smelled it, almost captured that impossible dream. One minute to go from an exultant and proud Marseille to a sad and disappointed Marseille … but proud of his team and also of his final madness.
In these times when everything is calibrated in euros and by the budget model, in times when the elimination from the Champions League is measured exclusively in millions not won, I feel that when you fall in an epic, tragic way and, perhaps because football You you can also play without restraints, even a little irresponsibly, your image is strengthened. And what you don’t earn for the budget you add to brand value and club value. I understand, even if I am not a sports marketing expert, that this epic and excess is also a good element in increasing the value of your differential brand and that it can have a positive impact on your future negotiations. And may this video of the flaming Vélodrome be a great presentation to go talk to any player who is on the radar of the Marseille club and thus offer them that extraordinary experience.
Yes, I also know that on the same Tuesday morning – those nights leave little room for sleep – the Marseille management, with Pablo Longoria at the helm, would add and subtract to balance the season while, every five minutes, that goal came. at their head.
And perhaps they thought: better less glory and more euros. But what do you want me to tell you, it still seems to me that, if we want to stay outside Europe, even from the second speed, it is better to do it with a party that makes history, that adds brands, that adds and makes your followers proud because that, for sure, he must have an award even if it is written in the balance sheet of the legend.
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