The Parisian coach takes stock after the defeat in Marseille on Wednesday evening (2-1), in the round of 16.
The game : «We did not manage to create situations in the second half, in this very rhythmic, very committed match. If we compare the two halves, there was very heavy pressing from the Olympians at the start of the game. We managed to get out at a certain point, we had space in the depth… even if we didn’t use them much. We still created situations. It was very open in the first half. In the second, we unfortunately take a rather stupid goal on a touch for us, in our last 20 meters. After that second goal, they got into a low block with a lot of transitions. And there, we sinned a lot, we created very few situations. We didn’t take the initiative to shoot when there were positions, against a very tightly-knit defence. Obviously, there is disappointment, for us, the club, our supporters. But we have to look forward. With the sequences of matches, we are not going to drag on this elimination even if it will be necessary to analyze more precisely, to see what we can improve, in particular in the depth and the presence in the opposing surface. It will also be necessary to see the state of form of each other in this sequence.»
intensity : «Marseille has this quality, not just that. It can contrast with our player profiles and our way of evolving. I repeat: in the first period, the two teams were quickly cut in half, there were spaces, but we did not take advantage of it, we were perhaps unhappy in one or two situations. But when the Marseille block was low, we were poor offensively. Our sides were blocked. In the combined game and the density, it did not pass. Afterwards, OM has its characteristics, we have ours. The season will be made in this way. We must avoid conceding situations or goals on errors that are expensive…»
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Neymar : «In the first half, he found the right spaces and delivered good balls. He was unfortunate on a shot that ended on the post. Afterwards, it was much more difficult for him but for the whole team, in a density, with an important athletic value on the defensive level. There was very little space, and in the small spaces we didn’t combine well. We lacked presence in the box. Ney gave everything in this match, unfortunately with little success like the rest of the team, with very few favorable situations to have a chance of qualifying in the second half.»
No number 9 at kick-off : «It’s not a regret but it was a choice in relation to what we had worked on. In the first period, we had favorable situations … Marseille’s second goal arrived quickly after the break (57th, editor’s note). I wanted to have the presence of Hugo (Ekitike) quickly in this match. He came in just after the goal, when I had planned to bring him in, not because we were trailing but because I thought we were still going to have spaces. Unfortunately, at this time of the match, there were fewer…»
OM had a complete match, a total match.
Christophe Galtier
The role of the Vélodrome for OM : «It’s hard to talk about the Olympians (smile). We knew the environment. There was atmosphere but we faced a team that played a complete match, a total match in intensity, and which was pushed by the Marseille public. It encourages OM players never to let go.»
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The Marseille composition : «There were absences due to injury (Tavares) and especially due to suspension (Bailly, Balerdi). We suspected that it was going to play like that, perhaps come alive in a different way, possibly with (Valentin) Rongier a little on the right side. In the end, no, (Jonathan) Clauss stayed on his right side. They put a specialist on the left (Kolasinac). Rongier was a bit in a three-man defense, lower in any case. But we weren’t surprised, we noticed it during the warm-up.»
The following : «We are already recovering. Obviously, cleaning the heads so that this disappointment is not a significant weight. There is a very big disappointment in our locker room but we have to look forward. There is nothing more we can do about it: we are eliminated. Recover well, continue to work and prepare very seriously for the upcoming deadlines.»
Statements taken at a press conference
