OM hasn’t played at home for over a month. Against Lens, the Olympiens happily return to their stadium while Eric Gerets can’t wait for his first match there.

At kick off it will have been a month since the Olympiens last played at the Vél’ – when they beat Besiktas on September18. Sure there were scenes of jubilation there then, but a month is along time. “It’s been a while since we played at the Vélodrome,” says Mamadou Niang, who can only see the positives in this long overdue reunion: “there’s no fear, it’s a pleasure because we rely a lot on our fans. The supporters have rightly been pretty disappointed with our recent results but I know they’ll be behind us and that they’ll push on to greater things.”
After 3 away matches, punctuated by 2 losses (in Auxerre and St-Etienne) and one majestic win (in Liverpool), this return to Marseille comes at a time when the side badly needs points, especially in the league. “At home or away, we need to take the points,”, underlines Julien Rodriguez, “this match against Lens is as important as any home game, but then even more so given our current situation.”
OM’s record this season at the Vélodrome is far from flattering whereas last season it was one of the side’s strong points. “Last year, our home form got us to our 2nd-place finish,”, confirms Niang, “we had the best home record at the end of the season (44 points, ahead of Lyon), and it’s a shame we haven’t done the same so far this season.” And he’s not wrong – the side is yet to open its league account at home this season. OM is coming off a win(2-0) in its last home match but that was against Besiktas in the Champions League.

Gerets: “Without the fans, football is worthless”

The Olympiens haven’t played at home for a month – what does Eric Gerets, about to experience his first match at the Vélodrome as OM manager, have to say about it? Is he impatient? “That’s putting it lightly. It’s a shame we’re not playing tonight (Friday) as I’m really in the mood and feel ready. Sadly, I have to wait.” Of the Vélodrome, the manager says, “It’s a fantastic stadium, it’s just a shame it doesn’t have more of a covering to keep the magnificent atmosphere in more. But I’m not complaining, I’m really happy about it.”
On more sports-oriented matters, he is hoping to develop even stronger links with the OM fans. “I was lucky enough to play in some stadiums with amazing atmosphere. I’m not scared of it. What I want is to as quickly as possible create something awesome between the fans and their team. It’s my job as manager. If, at the end of the season, the fans are happy then that means I’ve done my job well. On the other hand, if they’re disappointed, that’s a terrible thing. I was involved in some matches in Turkey that were played behind closed doors due to disciplinary action, and in matches like that, without fans, football is worthless, it doesn’t exist.”