Because it’s a title
After finishing first in the league last season, OM won the right to dispute the Champions Trophy against the winners of the Coupe de France. French Champions and winners of the Coupe de la Ligue, the Olympians have found an appetite for victory and would love to win a third title in four months. The players repeat it and Didier Deschamps joins them. “There is a trophy up for grabs and we have the chance to start the season with a title”.
“As a competitor, when you when a trophy you feel real joy. I won it with Bordeaux and we celebrated as we should. If we are lucky enough to win, I hope that we will celebrate in style” adds Souleymane Diawara.

Because it’s Paris
The best enemies of the French league face each other before the season has even started, in a one off match with a title at the end, here is an exciting opposition. Especially as the encounters between OM and Paris have often brought passions to the boil. The OM supporters who do not travel, the postponement because of the A strain flu virus, the huge police presence outside the stadiums, the OM reserves who play instead of the first team, the OM bus stoned upon its arrival at the Parc, the PSG players complaining of a, so called, smell of bleach in their dressing room … The list is long and for the first time in quite a while the encounter is going to be played under the best auspices, and on top of that under the sunny skies of Tunisia. "It’s still a classico. It’s Paris against the rest of the country with a story that is full of passion and, at times, excess. Things have calmed down but the rivalry is still there" affirms Didier Deschamps.
On top of everything, ten years day for day, after the death of Patrice De Peretti, beating Paris would be a great symbol.

Because pre-season preparation is not over
Since the end of the month of June, the Olympians have started their pre-season preparation. A training camp at Port-Crouesty, another at Saint-Jean-de-Luz and four friendly matches have filled up the OM interseason. Over the course of the friendly matches, Didier Deschamps men won on two occasions (against Vannes and Catania) and lost two (Monaco and Toulouse). Against two of their Ligue 1 opponents, OM were defeated. A success against Paris Saint-Germain would be a welcome result for morale and confidence.

Because we start back in ten days
Barely tend days after the Champions Trophy match, the Ligue 1 campaign will start. On Saturday the 7^th of August, the ballet of matches will begin. Champions of France, OM will be at home against the newly promoted champions of the L2, Caen. In view of this return to action, the match against Paris is a dress rehearsal but with a trophy up for grabs. Despite the suspensions (Niang, Brandao and J. Ayew) and the absences (Heinze and Mbia), Didier Deschamps intends to use this match well (as well as the Robert Louis-Dreyfus Trophy match, on Sunday) to ensure that a maximum number of his players are ready for the reception of the Normans at the Stade Vélodrome. "Despite the importance of this encounter and the title to be won, along with my staff, we have not hinged anything on the game. It’s a preparation game that is a little more important as there is a title to be taken, but what is really important is having the vast majority of my squad ready for the start of the league campaign”.