Dimitri Payet, far from being in rhythm, for his return to the Champions League against Olympiakos.

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LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP

  • Olympique de Marseille lost in added time against Olympiakos (1-0) for their return to the Champions League.

  • Villas Boas preferred to take responsibility for this defeat.

  • But players like Dimitri Payet or Dario Benedetto were not up to the meeting.

Seven years of absence for a cruel defeat.

Olympique de Marseille were beaten at the very end of the match by Olympiakos on Wednesday in Greece for the return of the Olympians to the Champions League after seven years of absence.

The Marseillais can regret their second half, during which they did not exist, after a rather successful start to the match.

But the observation is there, OM returned from Greece without having been able to save a point.

“It ends very badly for us.

They were lucky enough to kill us.

At the last minute it's difficult.

Yes, I am very disappointed.

Normally we should have scored a point ”, regretted André Villas Boas at the microphone of RMC Sport.

He preferred to take responsibility, when journalists asked him about the performance of his players at a press conference: “You know, it is not worth asking these questions with me, I protect my players.

If they are not able to be at the top level, I'm responsible, it's up to me to bring them back to the Champions League level.

"

Players far from Champions League level

In his response, André Villas Boas nevertheless admits half-heartedly that his players were not at the level of the meeting.

Starting with Dimitri Payet, supposed to be one of the technical leaders in the field, who did not exist.

Suspended in Ligue 1, the midfielder was not at all in rhythm Wednesday night against Olympiakos.

He suffered cruelly from the comparison with the former OM player, Mathieu Valbuena, excellent, and author of the decisive pass for the goal in stoppage time (90 + 1).

I am in the place of AVB next week I change everything against City.

Nothing to lose.

I'll put Sanson, Payet and Benedetto on the bench for you.

I give you a 4-4-2, with Cuisance, with Luis Henrique, with Gueye and Kamara.

He does not have the right to deliver the same 11. #TeamOM

- OM_Fada (@OM_Fadaaaaaa) October 21, 2020

Dario Benedetto, who has not scored since February 27, has yet to weigh on the opposing defense.

And unfortunately it is even more crying in the Champions League.

He did not touch a single ball in the opponent's area in the first half, and lost a crucial face-to-face to José Sa, after the locker room (46th).

His duel lost to the shoulder a few minutes later after being launched by Geye is a reflection of his match.

“We had chances in the first half and also at the start of the second, especially with Benedetto and Thauvin, but I think we should have a little more.

The first team to score could win, ”admitted André Villas Boas.

"We struggled to be in front"

But the Portuguese coach is right to take a large part of the responsibility for the progressive disintegration of his team.

Why not have established Michaël Cuisance, who we have seen very comfortable in Ligue 1 against Bordeaux at the tip of a diamond-shaped four-man midfield?

He preferred Dimitri Payet, in a 4-3-3 where the Reunionese was everywhere, but especially nowhere.

André Villas Boas even waited until the 75th minute to make his first changes, replacing, of course, the less good ones: Benedetto, Payet and Sanson.

“We had trouble finding ourselves in front, we changed the system compared to the last match against Bordeaux,” added Valentin Rongier at the end of the match on RMC Sport.

Best action of the match kicks the double contact in the 93rd how he must rleh of the 2 crs who plays in his place miskine he passes the ball to sakai des sansons 6 months ago he passed the ball to Alcantara and kimmich

- A (@ sololabien9) October 21, 2020

This cruel defeat against the opponent supposed to be the most conquerable in the group places, in any case, OM in an uncomfortable situation after the victory of the favorite City against FC Porto (3-1).

“It puts us in a bit of trouble, obviously, before we host City.

But hey, Porto also has zero points, ”admitted André Villas Boas.

It's up to him to make the right choices, and to propel his players, for the reception of the ogre Manchester City next Tuesday (9 p.m.) and try to create a surprise.

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