Jean-Pierre Papin’s return to the Stade Vélodrome and Eric Gerets’ first home match at the helm of OM almost overshadowed the match itself in the preceding days. Here’s a closer look at the night both managers had.
The first is having his first match at the Vélodrome in charge of OM and the second is returning as Lens manager to a stadium that elected him “Olympien of the Century”. The two men actually played against each other at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, when Belgium played France for 3rd place.
21 years later, Eric Gerets and Jean-Pierre find themselves face to face once again, this time as managers, for a very special edition of OM-Lens, considering the sides’ respective league rankings. OM (18th), just like Lens (17th), have a had a terrible start to the season, which is why there were so many serious faces as the players got off the bus after arriving at the stadium.
Jean-Pierre Papin quickly cheered things up however, bumping into old friends and familiar faces from his time in Marseille. But as soon as he took the warm up with his side, in order to make the most of the atmosphere at his “favourite stadium”, concentration and pressure took the upper hand again.
For a few seconds, the former OM striker was taken back 17 years when the stadium announcer read out his name at the end of the Lens team sheet. Applause rained down from the stands of the Vélodrome. And the welcome was even warmer for OM’s new Belgian manager Eric Gerets.
The two managers were pretty quiet during the opening minutes of the match. Both men only left the bench because of injuries; Papin in the 20th minute to get the subs warming up after Julien Sablé picked up a knock; Gerets just 5 minutes later when Jacques Faty replaced Julien Rodriguez.
They both spent the rest of the half on their feet, hands in their pockets or behind their backs.
Gerets remained calm in the second half but JPP was more mobile, pacing up and down the technical area and barking instructions.
Knowing full well that it’s not over until a large woman yells, Eric Gerets remained calm when Bolo Zenden scoped, even using the time to give Lorik Cana some tactical instructions for the last 15 minutes of the match. He applauded Djibril Cissé off and gave him a friendly pat even though the OM fans were whistling at him.
Towards the end of the match, the Belgian began gesticulating, encouraging his men, signalling them to push up or pull back.
The former Belgium defender’s face finally broke into a smile at the end of the match. The 3 points in the bag, the OM manager congratulated his players.
As for the Lensois, their scenario is getting more and more complicated; they are now in the relegation zone and JPP’s face as he left the field reflected the myriad difficulties of Gervais Martel’s club…
21 years after their confrontation as players, it was Eric Gerets who came out on top in the battle as managers. And the night ended with a very respectful moment between the two men.
Eric Gerets: “We need our fans’ support”
“I worked in Turkey where the atmosphere is intense but I have to say to the fans that we need you. They have to get behind us. If the fans cheer a move that doesn’t end in a goal, the players will try even harder the next time.
It’s the first time I’ve ever seen fans whistle at their own player when he is subbed off. It’s surprising because the fans were behind us in the first half. [I have to remind the fans that the current team isn’t the same as the one that won the Champions League. You have to be realistic and appreciate that the players on the pitch give all they have and sometimes more. I told my players if they play like madmen for 90 minutes, they can always leave the field with their heads held high. That was the case today.”Jean-Pierre Papin: “The applause was fantastic”
“I put my memories aside for this match. But they came rushing back when I walked onto the field but the moment passed quickly because my playing career is over. I had some great experiences here but my future is all Lens. But I must say that the applause was fantastic.”
