OM play Nancy on Saturday evening under the obligation to win in order to keep alive their hopes in the race for the title with Bordeaux, who are up against Monaco, but also to ensure that they finish in at least second place.
Saturday at 21h00
Stade Marcel-Picot
Referee: Bertrand Layec
Live multiplex on Canal+ and Foot+ (channel 208)
«Even with one chance in a million we have to keep on believing» stated Erik Gerets on Thursday. The disappointment of the defeat against Lyon and the loss of 1st place has run its course. Over the course of a week that started with a day and a half rest, in order to let the players clear their heads, the squad got back to work to prepare for the trip to Nancy, the penultimate match of a season that hasn’t rendered its final verdict.
«As long as there is a little chance, we will have to give everything to keep it. There are two games left and nothing is over yet. We’ll fight to the end» underlined Mamadou Niang.
Things are simple: Bordeaux welcome Monaco with a three point lead and a better goal difference, than OM, at the top of the table. So as the L1 moves into its final phase with the last two matches all played at the same time, excitement is guaranteed this Saturday and the following. Because, as is customary, OM have announced that they are not focused on Bordeaux’s matches, there is no doubt that they will be aware of eventual goings on 800 kilometres away in the Lorraine region.
The OM squad
Goalkeepers
Mandanda, Riou
Defenders
Bonnart, Taiwo, Hilton, Zubar, Civelli
Midfielder
M'Bami, Cana, Cheyrou, Kaboré, Valbuena, Ziani, Zenden
Forwards
Niang, Brandao, Koné, Wiltord
But, the first mission is to win in Nancy, before any discussion of the outcome of the season. Niang confirms: «Bordeaux haven’t worried about us and have continued winning their matches, it’s up to us to do the same thing. The pressure is on both sides. They have to win their final two matches and we do as well.» The other idea, equally non-negligible, is to ensure second place. Synonymous of direct qualification to the Champions League, which was one of the objectives announced at the start of the season.
To do so, OM will have to battle it out with a Nancy side assured of their place in the L1, unless something drastic happens, and who have the terrible habit of playing bad tricks on OM as the match earlier in the season showed (a 0-3 at the Vélodrome). We should be reassured that there is no doubt about the implication of the OM squad who are on a run of 7 victories in a row on the road and who have taken maximum points on their travels in 2009. «It’s not because we have lost one match that we can put into question the rest of our season» says a Niang who will not be sparing his efforts against Nancy.
And there is a reason, as long as the small hope remains the entire Marseille nation will be ferociously hanging on. There have been turnarounds which appeared much more improbable in a season run-in. And with, as a preamble, a victory against Nancy, the little flame could continue to burn until the final moments of the of the season finale on the 30th of May. Who knows, they could even finish up by setting alight the Vélodrome.
Mandanda has "forgotten" the duel between OM and Nancy of last season
Overtaken by OM on the final day of last season in the race for 3rd place, Nancy had given Marseille a good run for their money. One year later, as he prepares to head to Marcel-Picot, Steve Mandanda is not thinking about it anymore. "I’d forgotten what happened last year. We aren’t particularly thinking about it today. What we need to do is win and remain in the course for a title which will be decided, I hope, on the final day of the season. Nancy are one of the better sides in the L1. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that we are scared of them, but we respect them. We have to go there as conquerors with the ambition of taking all three points " he confided in us.
B. Gavanon: «We would be cursed on the Canebière»
Starting his career at and a native of Marseille, Benjamin Gavanon, is delighted to see OM in the race for the title but announces that Nancy are highly motivated going into this match. «I’m always happy seeing OM at the top of the table. It brings back good memories of my youth, as I was 13 years old the last time OM won the title. I know excitement was high there last week, but the defeat against OL calmed the atmosphere down a little , he explained on the Nancy website, but when you are a contender for the title you cannot give up after the first little set back. Marseille will be coming here to win. As far as we are concerned, we won’t hesitate in messing up their title bid. After our win at the Vélodrome in December, we would be cursed on the Canebière.»
Niang and the knowledge gleaned from re-watching the OM-Lyon match
On Thursday, Erik Gerets organised a video session so that his players could watch their defeat against Lyon. And, just like Mamadou Niang, the OM squad took a lot of information from the exercise. "We saw that at moments we made some big mistakes and lacked concentration. We were too carried away by what was at stake and forgot about our tactical basics. It was good that we did this, it allowed us to see the domains in which we have to progress " the Senegalese striker confided in us.
The central defender Ouaddou is out, while a doubt persists over the choice of goalkeeper, Bracigilano or Grégorini?
7Like the number of victories in a row away from home for OM, or since Monaco-OM (0-1) on the 15th of February. This would move to eight if they are successful against Nancy on Saturday, which would be quite an achievement.
There is still a lot of hope, but, firstly, we need to get a good result against Nancy. If we win, we can continue hoping. In football, especially at the end of the season, strange things sometimes happen. We have to win to take second place, only then will we look and see what is happening elsewhere."
