Obviously after a defeat like the one suffered in Nantes, there were no happy faces at the Marseille training ground. OM are lucid, the defeat really hurts and no-one is looking for excuses. «Things are a bit better than they were yesterday. It’s a little catastrophe but life goes on , says Eric Gerets, we were ridiculed in front the entire country. Any sports person is proud and the OM players have their pride as well. All respect to Carquefou, but it is difficult for us to be eliminated by a team like that. They clebrated and I’m happy for them.They will never forget what happened, but then again neither will I. It’s difficult to digest.» The captain Cana is less emphatic  : «To call it a humiliation is a bit strong and takes away all the merit of the Carquefou team, I think that the majority of their players will probably have trouble walking today. I’m very disappointed but also impressed by what they achieved.»

 «Work hard to get back the team that we had »

The disappointment is there, and the questions about the reasons of the defeat are numerous. «Mental strength» reply in stereo the coach and captainwho saw the first signs in the match against Saint-Petersburg and the first half against Lens. Gerets is more precise : «It happened to us twice in two weeks, we have to set the alarm bells ringing and say that it’s not going to continue. For the moment the players are having trouble finding the necessary efforts deep down, and it’s surely mental. So I will be interested to see their reaction on Saturday.»
OM can use their not so distant good form as a base. As they have had a good run of invincibilty at the Vélodrome in the league since mid-january. «We must work hard to get back the team that we had not long ago», «try and rediscover the team we were three weeks ago » hammers home Gerets. Especially as the league restarts on Saturday with the reception of Sochaux. «Carquefou was a terrible surprise for me but we have a very important game coming up, announces the coach, we were ridiculed and I have been touched to the core, but my players and I are not looking for excuses. They want to give a good showing and if everyone is fit it will be a bit easier for us.»