It‘s getting worse: Marseille‘s director resigns

The first serous crack happened after a 3-0 humiliation in Belgium. Marseille lost to Bruges and with Benfica‘s late goal against Real Madrid, the French club was eliminated from the Champions League. A serious blow to the ambitions and lost of additional millions of euros was a serious problem for the management, while the fans went berserk that their club was humiliated by some 'no-name' club from Belgium. That crack, than turned into a hole when Olympique was humiliated 5-0 by arch-rivals PSG and Roberto De Zerbi than went through that ‘hole‘ and resigned. And now the hole became even bigger when Marseille‘s sporting director Medhi Benatia resigned, leaving president Pablo Longoria all alone and at the spotlights of both media and the angry fans.

Former OM player became the sporting director in 2023, but leaves after another setback: a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg (after a 2-0 lead).

“Since arriving at the club, I have always acted with heart and a single obsession: to restore Olympique de Marseille to its rightful place. I know this club, I know what it demands and the passion that drives it. Today, we are still in the running. The objective of qualifying for the Champions League is clearly within our reach, and we are still in contention to bring the Coupe de France home. Despite recent setbacks and some cruel twists of fate, the project is progressing on the pitch, but I cannot ignore the current climate. I sense a growing dissatisfaction, a breakdown in communication that I deeply regret. In Marseille, results are the only true measure. You know my frankness and transparency. Therefore, given the tensions surrounding the management, I have indeed submitted (not offered) my resignation, because in my opinion, the club will always come before individuals, and I do not want my presence to become an obstacle or a burden to the organisation and its development“ he wrote on Instagram.

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The French media already reported that he offered his resignation after De Zerbi departure but it was denied. American owner Frank McCourt and his entourage were surprised and caught off guard. According to RMC Sport, McCourt asked Benatia to be patient, not to rush things, and to wait until the weekend to assess the situation. The Moroccan then agreed to manage day-to-day operations this week, from Roberto de Zerbi's departure to overseeing the interim staff. Medhi Benatia even initiated the search for a new coach, continuing until Saturday. But now he just resigned without another round of talks.

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The fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation during the Strasbourg game with various banners and empty places but things escalated after a surprising 2-2 draw. A smoke bomb was thrown onto the pitch. There was also a brief incident outside the stadium, with a group of rather agitated Marseille supporters attempting to enter the presidential suites. Stewards intervened to contain the fans' anger. The entrances were then blocked and secured by riot police. Now, it‘s up to Pablo Longoria to pick up the pieces, to find another sporting director and a manager and all that in February, not forgeting that the Champions League place for next season is under serious threat.

Marseille - the art of dropping points

And the players are also to blame, but they have their own problems. Former players Adil Rami summed it up pretty blunt.

"Sometimes, to be honest, we even play with fear, even when we win. And we start thinking negatively, saying to ourselves, 'Okay, we're winning 2-0, but if we concede one, we're finished.' It's serious to think like that. That's why sometimes there are players who don't sign for Marseille, because they're afraid. You need to have a steely mentality to take on this magnificent club" he said recently.