Throwing flairs at your own players – welcome to Marseille

It was just over a month ago when Marseille players, coach Roberto De Zerbi and the club’s executives had a late night meeting with the fans. They were third in Ligue 1, out of the Champions League and they only thing they got was the French Cup. It was before the Rennes game, when the fans clearly stated that defeat was not an option. Marseille eventually won but on Wednesday night they stumbled and are out of the cup after a penalty shootout with Toulouse. The fact that Olympique de Marseille have not won a single trophy since 2012 is truly amazing so the fans’ fury after the game was really big.

When Arsenal’s on-loan player Ethan Nwaneri missed the penalty, the stands at the Velodrome quickly emptied, but the ultras on the North stand were still there to vent their anger. The Marseille players attempted a lap of honor to greet their supporters, but flares were thrown onto the pitch: fans were throwing it at their own players. That’s the current state of affairs in the famous French club. Just days after losing to Lyon twice but coming back to win the game 3-2, Marseille failed in the Cup and they need to come back with a win quickly. Their next match is in Ligue 1 on Saturday, against…..Toulouse.

"The disappointment is as great as the hopes that were placed in us for this match and this Coupe de France campaign. When you have the opportunity in two matches to reach a final... you had to win this one first. In this situation, we have to look ahead, face the challenge, and accept the anger, the disappointment, and the sadness of our supporters who were with us throughout the match and during the penalty shootout" said coach Habib Beye after the game.

Arsenal’s gem ruins Marseille’s trophy hunt

The former Marseille player is now their boss, but this defeat (second in just three games in charge) is not looking good for him either as he became the first coach to be eliminated from the Coupe de France in the same season with two different clubs. In the last round of the cup he was still Rennes manager and lost to Marseille. What is also worrying are the other stats: Olympique suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in a penalty shootout in the Coupe de France. Across all competitions, their record over the last three years is worrying. The club has won only one of its last seven penalty shootouts in all competitions.

COUPE DE FRANCE - QUARTERFINALS

Tuesday

Strasbourg - Reims 2-1 (0-0)

/Panichelli 83 pen, Enciso 87 pen - Zabi 90+4/

Wednesday

Lorient - Nice 5-6 on pen (0-0)

Olympique Marseille - Toulouse 3-4 on pen (1-1)

/Greenwood 2 pen, Paixao 56 - Gboho 13, Cresswell 60/

Thursday

23.10: (2.40) Olympique Lyon (3.50) Lens (2.85)

***odds are subject to change***