If OM are qualified at the starting whistle on Thursday against Benfica, they should not just sit back and defend, but play exactly as they know how to.
A 75% chance of qualifying. If we base ourselves on European precedents, OM look to be well on their way to the quarter-final of the Europa League. The result from the first leg in Portugal (1-1) is good, "when we kick-off the match we are qualified. If we don't concede any goals we will qualify" resumes Didier Deschamps knows that his statement is a little simplistic. The most important question before the game against Benfica at the Vélodrome is: “How do you go into the match in view of the score from the first leg?”
A simple reaction would be for Marseille to sit back on what they have and counter their opponents. That, however, would go against their nature and would leave a lot of things uncertain. The coach continues: "I don't have a team to play for a 0-0. I don't want my team to stay in their own box. We will have to defend well like we did in Portugal for over an hour but we also need to create chances. If we score that will leave us a little more room to maneuver. It will be important to hold on to the ball".
A providential goal scorer in the first leg and by nature a player who needs to go forward, Hatem Ben Arfa agrees with his manager: «"'The coach wants to win. It wouldn't be a good idea to sit back and defend. If we did, they could really hurt us".
Deschamps wants a "noisy" Vélodrome
Benfica, who have scored 97 goals in official matches this season, are not Toulouse. Pablo Aimar and his mates know just how to score goals and they are coming to the Vélodrome to do just that, as the Brazilian Ramires indicated. Ben Arfa replies: "We have our qualities and if we stick to them we can go through. We will have to be vigilant though, as they can score at any moment".
If OM managed to deal with Benfica for long periods during the first leg, it was certainly down to their performance. "I heard people say that Benfica didn't play particularly well, but that was down to our performance for over an hour, but the last 20 minutes were complicated" states Didier Deschamps who noted that the Portuguese were formidable at home in their superb stadium.
It will be up to the Vélodrome to push their heroes into the last eight sides still engaged in the Europa League. The coach has thrown out an appeal for Thursday: «"It will be important for us that the public be there in numbers, making a lot of noise to to turn it into a real European cup evening, we will need it".
