"For us the story begins now, we only think of the present. It's now," assured Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli on Wednesday.

Focused on this revenge against Feyenoord, the Argentinian technician swept away both the weight of OM's continental history - five finals played - and the near future, the last three days of Ligue 1 which will say which European competition his club will play next season.

Because even if there are only three weeks of competition left, it is still impossible to draw conclusions from the Marseille season.

It has been beautiful, often inspiring, but it can still turn out very badly.

In the ideal scenario, OM overthrow Feyenoord on Thursday, qualify for the Tirana final on May 25 and cling to their second place in L1 and the qualification for the Champions League that goes with it.

Two straight losses

But there is another, darker one, where OM lose everything, their dreams of the final and their ticket to the C1, like a sad remake of the spring of 2018, when they ended bloodless, beaten by Atlético Madrid in Europa League final (3-0) and deprived of C1 after a final sprint concluded in fourth place.

Steve Mandanda and Bouba Kamara were already there, like Dimitri Payet, who as a good captain and scalded cat warned his group.

"We had nine months of high quality but if we miss the last three weeks, it's nine months for nothing," said the Marseille N.10 last week.

"Losing everything in a few days is horrible. You have to give everything to have no regrets."

OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda during the first leg of the Europa League Conference against Feyenoord, April 28, 2022 in Rotterdam MAURICE VAN STEEN ANP/AFP

Problem for OM, his last two matches are not very reassuring since he chained two defeats, which had never happened to him this season.

On Sunday, Lyon came to win at the Vélodrome 3-0 and exposed OM's defensive fragility, their offensive inefficiency, illustrated by the failures of Arkadiusz Milik, and the fatigue of some.

Program for the return semi-finals of the Europa League Conference Vincent LEFAI AFP

And last Thursday, in Rotterdam, the Dutch coach Arne Slot had successfully opposed the energy and offensive runs of his team to Sampaoli's obsession with control, which often results, especially in the most difficult periods, in a a certain slowness, even a frank torpor.

Drogba remembers

"Football gives us the opportunity to turn things around. We lost a game that we could have won, a very turbulent game, with a lot of chances on both sides. We hope this one will be different," said Argentina on Wednesday.

"The key to qualifying is to dominate over time, have the ball and not share the attacking phases with the opponent, otherwise we will be in trouble," added the Marseille coach, who will not give up. therefore not to his game of possession and position.

Still, OM will have to score at least once to go into extra time, twice to hope to qualify, while Bamba Dieng in the first leg and Milik against Lyon were terribly clumsy.

"We weren't good. But we learn from our mistakes and we'll be ready. I'm very confident. In our stadium everything is possible and I think we have a good chance of going to the final", however assured the Pole on Wednesday.

Because even if the Vélodrome will only be able to accommodate 50,000 spectators due to the suspension of the North Bend, it will make a racket.

Marseille remembers the great hours and loves these moments, as Didier Drogba recalled on Twitter: "The stadium has still been shaking since 2004 and this OM-Newcastle semi-final. Strength to you guys!"

© 2022 AFP