Good luck with that! New Marseille president aims for ‘stability’

The word ‘stability’ and Olympique Marseille are not associated with each other. This French giant has always been in some sort of turbulence. Their rich history sometimes looks like a long line of instability with short parts of stability. That short part was, for example, last season, when Roberto De Zerbi’s men finished in second place without much trouble. But just under a year later, the club is out of the Champions League after a number of embarrassing defeats, Roberto De Zerbi is already at Tottenham, sporting director Mehdi Benatia will stay only until May, the president Pablo Longoria left two weeks ago and the club is in the fourth place with no secured Champions League place and with a coach who has three defeat already (after six games). So, what is new president offering? Stability.

“My priority is to bring about a period of stability , a medium- and long-term vision that will try to reconcile everyone. Internally, there are these economic constraints, which I have no difficulty integrating. I will try to be a one-man band, making the right recruitment decisions, and in the meantime, I hope to inject extra energy into our Champions League qualification" said Stephane Richard, who was promoted as Longoria’s successor today. Richard is the club’s owner Frank McCourt’s personal choice and the former Orange CEO will try to finally bring back that famous ‘stability’ into an internally unstable club. He will be in trouble as early as May, if coach Habib Beye, who hasn’t enjoyed a great start at the club doesn’t manage to take the club to the third place. The fourt position still has Champions League possibility, but Marseille would then had to go through qualifications, and three seasons ago it ended with another defeat and fans’ riots, which caused coach Marcelino’s resignation after only seven games in charge.

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So, the aim must be a third place.

"The ambition is clear, it remains reaffirmed, and it's truly to establish OM among the select group of European clubs destined to play in the Champions League every year. So, to be in the top three of the league, of Ligue 1. That has always been the ambition, and it's reaffirmed. After that, let's not prejudge what will happen. The summer period is crucial, and it's far too early to talk about that" said Richard. Marseille will be short of funds for a squad overhaul come June, but let’s just wait and see what happens until May.

LIGUE 1 ROUND 29

Friday

20.00: (3.70) Paris (3.50) Monaco (2.00)

22.05: (1.25) Olympique Marseille (6.50) Metz (10.5)

Saturday

20.00: (2.05) Auxerre (3.30) Nantes (3.80)

22.05: (1.40) Rennes (5.00) Angers (7.00)

Sunday

18.15: (1.92) Nice (3.50) Le Havre (4.10)

18.15: (3.10) Toulouse (3.30) Lille (2.35)

21.45: (1.72) Olympique Lyon (3.60) Lorient (5.20)

* odds are subject to change