Marseille and chaos fit like hand in glove and this season has been a typically bumpy ride for fans of the French club.
Roberto De Zerbi’s explosive exit in February is aging like milk and it seems the Italian, now at Tottenham, was not the problem for OM.
In fact, it now looks as though De Zerbi was the key thread holding everything together, with the season completely unravelling since his departure.
Habib Beye succeeded De Zerbi but his tenure has started disastrously, losing five of nine games in charge.
He took the team to Marbella in an attempt to lift morale and strengthen bonds but that jaunt was followed by a 2-0 defeat by Lorient at the weekend.
His relaxed attitude has already shifted, according to L’Equipe, with players now subjected to double training sessions in a bid to reverse their form.
Mason Greenwood (left) has come under fire for his ‘nonchalant’ body language
Marseille’s key man this term has been Mason Greenwood. The former Man United striker has scored 15 times in Ligue 1 and provided seven assists.
But RMC Sport report that the Englishman is ‘irritating coaches with his nonchalance’.
He ‘gave up’ at the weekend and they report that he is ‘showing very little effort or connection with his teammates’.
In spite of his impressive numbers, there is also a chance Greenwood will be sold this summer.
While his stock remains relatively high, a number of those around him are coming in for criticism.
Former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is club captain but looks ‘unrecognisable, hesitant in his play and outmatched in duels’.
He is another who may be considering his future at the club.
Another senior star, Benjamin Pavard, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, has been accused of going missing in the big moments, while ex-Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is described as being ‘disgusted’ by the lack of effort from team-mates.
Pavard’s defensive partner Leonardo Balerdi has also delivered error-strewn performances and was at fault for both goals at the weekend.
Marseille have not won a trophy since the League Cup 14 years ago and have not won Ligue 1 since 2010.
Former Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (right) has come in for criticism
The huge turnover of players has been attributed by new president Stephane Richard (and previously De Zerbi) as a key reason for inconsistent performances.
‘It’s incredibly difficult to get a team playing well when a third or half of the squad changes every year,’ Richard said. ‘The first thing this club needs is a certain stability.’
But there has been instability permeating the club right from the top.
Sporting director Medhi Benatia quit in February after De Zerbi’s exit, then remarkably changed his mind and came back.
He was fuming after the weekend’s defeat, publicly calling out the squad.
Benatia said: ‘When I see matches like this I have to come and talk. It’s scandalous, scandalous.
‘What we ask for is some mentality, a minimum of pride. … (Expletive), pride, respect for the jersey.
‘We’ve had six or seven inexplicable performances this season.’
Marseille fans are furious with the perceived lack of effort from the team in recent weeks
RMC report that an anonymous member of staff has said: ‘Some players are having trouble with Beye, that’s true, but it would be the same with any coach, given how disconnected the players—let’s say some players—seem to be from reality and the Champions League objective.’
Players are struggling to understand the new manager’s instructions and Beye is already under mounting pressure.
All is not lost, however, with OM still just two points off Lyon in third place.
The top of the table is hugely congested but a strong end to the season could still salvage the campaign.
Given the current feeling among fans and players themselves, that seems like a long shot.
