Inevitable. Even though the season is not over, and there is still a lot of suspense as far as OM are concerned, questions on the recruitment for next season are being asked all over. On the supporters forums, in the inbox of the official site and at press conferences. And even though all thoughts of the top men at the club are concentrated on the last two games against Le Mans and Strasbourg, Pape Diouf agreed to talk about the future OM. With the first question intimately linked to the clubs sporting situation  : will the recruitment be different whether the team finishes in 3rd or in 4th place? « Of course, but not drastically so  », answered th president. « Because even if we finish in third place, we are not gaurenteed a place in the Champions’ League group stage, which is where we would earn money. Our squad is full of quality at the moment. It’s not for nothing that we have been renewing contracts. It’s so as not to weaken the team  ».

« We’re satisfied that Nasri has prolonged his contract
The day after Samir Nasri prolonged his contratc to 2012, Pape Diouf explains in detail the logic that went into the conclusion of this agreement. The president also spoke of the future  : « I didn’t sign yesterday to start looking to leave tomorrow  ».
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Globally, OM’s project is the following  : « With Eric Gerets in charge from the start there will be more room for manoeuver, we will have to renew the squad but not heavily. Just add here and there. Which will give the squad extra strength but will also compensate any departures. The idea is that the backbone of the team stays in place  ».
An idea that the Belgian coach agrees with wholeheartedly. It sounds the same when Eric Gerets says « I already know what my team will be. I’m dreaming about it at night … I can already see them playing (laughs). I do not kknow who will be coming, I know who I want and what is possible. There won’t be any great changes. Three-four (players) maximum ».
Will it be players coming in to strengthen the sqaud, but most notably the bench in order to have more solutions in the long run? « No. If players come they will be first choice players. And let me just remind you that our bench has been decisive on morte than one occasion this season  », he remarks, considering that it would be « unfair » to say that the Marseille bench lacked « depth » this season.