OM's U19 team defeated Spanish outfit Athletic Bilbao 2-1 on Wednesday to move back into contention in their section in the NextGen Séries. The result put a smile back on the face of coach Jean-Luc Cassini: "It was a good game, and most of all, I liked to spirit and attitude the lads showed because we were behind on the scoreboard and we were able to bounce back before half-time and then finish over the top of them and get the result. It was a really good performance."
He also appreciated the presence of sporting director José Anigo, first team coach Elie Baup and assistant coach Franck Passi in the stands, before they pooped down to congratulate the players in the changing rooms: "We can see just how important the young players are to the club and that is a real source of motivation for the kids." The coach claimed his players showed more maturity than in the opening game 3-0 loss to Arsenal: "We had an older squad this time, with players from the reserves, even if we still ended with some youngsters born in 1996 on the pitch. Overall, the squad had more experience of these big games mais, it was a different match to the one against Arsenal."
And finally, the young OM players remain undefeated at home this competition: "We are still undefeated in four home matches in the NextGen with victories over Barca, Manchester City and Bilbao," explained Cassini. "That's great for the club and it shows that the youth academy is doing well, producing good players that play good football. It's very important to measure up well against these sides."