André Villas Boas hopes for a better performance from his players on Saturday against Metz.

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Daniel Cole / AP / SIPA

  • Olympique de Marseille obtained a lucky 1-1 draw on Sunday night, closing the fourth day of Ligue 1 against Lille.

  • A complicated start to the season at home for OM after Thursday's defeat against Saint-Etienne, a first since 1979.

  • André Villas does not really explain the start of the season, perhaps the absence of supporters, but he prefers to retain the positive: OM have the same number of points as last season at the same stadium.

At the Velodrome stadium,

"I also experienced that in Tottenham".

André Villas Boas, the coach of Olympique de Marseille returned to the start of the season more than sluggish for his home team, after a draw miraculously obtained against Lille on Sunday night.

After the defeat Thursday night 2 goals to 0 against Saint-Etienne, a first since 1979, the coach had warned: OM must "show [its] supporters [their] level against a direct opponent".

It missed.

After a successful start to the season, a victory in Brest and especially in Paris, OM are struggling to collect points at home.

If he considers this draw as "a good point", the content of the match is disappointing: without a still heroic Steve Mandanda, OM could even have lost by two or three goals.

“I don't know why, I've been through such a situation at Tottenham, maybe it's my fault.

Saint-Etienne was a big failure, if I could trade the victory in Paris for the loss against Saint-Etienne at home… It was hard for me, for everyone, ”admitted André Villas Boas.

"Watching the Vélodrome like that is terrible"

The absence of supporters, or almost with 1,000 supporters in a stadium with 67,000 seats, is perhaps one of the reasons.

“It's terrible.

Looking at the Velodrome like that is terrible.

We miss it a lot, but we have to live with it.

It's the same for all the big empty stadiums, ”he considers.

Post- # Covid football: Arms sounds in an almost empty Velodrome #OMLOSC #OM pic.twitter.com/Iz937JcTJw

- Jean Saint-Marc (@JeanSaintMarc) September 20, 2020

OM had decided for this match to broadcast a soundtrack with cries of supporters.

Not really a success from the press gallery with a small gap between sound and actions.

But Villas Boas appreciated: “Yes I find that it serves the animation.

If it can happen like that in all stages, that's good ”.

Same number of points as last year

But it is especially on the ground that OM must wake up, with players far from their level like the midfielder or Dimitri Payet.

“We lose several balls, we want to improve this aspect, it can be fatigue, but it will take a little time to find confidence.

We made a few mistakes which gave Lille some cons.

It's our fault.

We need to put more pressure on the ball carrier, it's not the defense's fault.

When we put more pressure, we improve, ”targets the Portuguese coach.

I find you a little too harsh on Payet when you say he walks, and only plays when he has the ball.

Don't forget that at the start of the season he lowered his salary, so obviously his performance #OMLOSC pic.twitter.com/xiJbb89skO

- Jean Neymar (@Goaldorak) September 20, 2020

He especially prefers to put things into perspective at the start of the season, and see the positive.

“On the fourth day we have the same number of points as last season, and at the end we had a lot of points last season, the most important is consistency.

Metz is very important for us ”, he warned while the Marseillais will still play at home next Saturday.

And perhaps with a new striker since Villas Boas announced the arrival of a "young nugget of 18-19 years, normally Wednesday".

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