Led by their new manager and with a number of new recruits in the ranks, OM are in the starting blocks waiting for an exciting new season to kick-off on Saturday at 21h00 in Grenoble.
GRENOBLE-OM
Ligue 1 - Week 1
Saturday at 21h00
Stade des Alpes
Referee: Philippe Kalt
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The big day is finally upon us. As the 8th of August approached, excitement grew exponentially, it spared nobody and no-one was able to avoid it, it has to be said.
These final hours which separate us from the big kick-off will only highten this furious impatience to get things underway for Didier Deschamps’s side. And also for the supporters who want to see this side in action, a side which last season brought them within touching distance of the title and which has been considerably reinforced since then.
Goalkeepers
Mandanda, Andrade
Defenders
Rodriguez, Heinze, Diawara, Taiwo, Rool, Bocaly, M'Bow
Midfielders
Cissé, Abriel, Kaboré, Cheyrou, Ben Arfa, Valbuena
Forwards
Niang, Brandao, Morientes, Koné
Despite the label of favourites stuck to them like « super glue » by all the specialists of France, OM head into this first match of the seasons in a climate of serenity. That was the message clearly sent out by Didier Deschamps in his press conference on Thursday night. « I’m not scared, I don’t have any particular stress or doubts. There is more excitement to get things going », he stated when the questions concerning the « pressure » inherenyt to big debuts started raining down.
He was also asked if « starting without a win would be … a catastrophe? » This exaggeration was brushed away with a big smile: « It would even be a light earthquake. Are we already using superlatives … I am someone positive, so I am trying to think that everything will be fine and am preparing the team so that happens. Afterwards, there are always if’s … We will draw our conclusions the day after, or even just after, the match ».
For the first of three away matches in a row (Grenoble, Lille in Montpellier and Rennes), OM go into this game without Mbia (suspended), Bonnart, Hilton and of course Lucho. On the other hand, Heinze and Morientes made the trip to Grenoble.
Incomplete, the OM team will not be at 100% of its capabilities. « More like 80/90% », according to Mamadou Niang. This is the result of the heavy pre-season programme and the need to build up an understanding between the new and old players. « We are going to need three o four matches before we are really underway », considers the Senegalese international.
Because of this nobody is expecting any wonders or miracles. A good performance and a positive result would already be of great satisfaction.
Because if the expectant excitement will come to an end this Saturday evening, everyone hopes that it will be followed by great enthousiasm.
Echos
A brand new jersey will also be used for the first time
The players will be wearing OM’s 2009/10 third change kit on the occasion of the match against Grenoble.
Destined to be worn during European competition, this jersey could also be worn in the L1 if the « home » or « away » shirts clash with the colours of the opposition, as wil be the case against Grenoble who wear blue and white.
Discover the jersey here, cliquez ici
Heinze in the starting 11?
In the absence of Vitorino Hilton, Gabriel Heinze could make his debut for OM alongside Souleymane Diawara. A real debut as the Argentinean, who arrived last week, did not take part in the friendly match against Lens. Without confirming that he will align this duoat the Stade des Alpes, Didier Deschamps declared on Thursday that there association was a possibility: "I would have preferred them to have played together at least once, but needs must..."
The opponent
Mécha Bazdarevic will have at his disposal, against OM, his new attacking recruits Matsui and Ljuboja.
With the exception of the keeper (Viviani), the rest of the team is pretty much the same as last season (Batlles, Vitakic, Romao, Jemmali, Cesar).
La stat3Just like the number of goals scored by OM at each of their trips to Grenoble. The first during the 1962/63 season and the second last year. On both occasions OM were victorious 3-0.
The statement 
We’re not going to hide. Marseille have always played to win. Neither the recruitment nor the analysis made come into the equation, we play to win. Every year it is the same. Whatever recruitment had been made, I would have been given the same objectives."
