André Villas-Boas apologized to the journalist from La Provence.

-

NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP

The press conference of André Villas-Boas on the eve of the reception of Reims at the Vélodrome was at least as expected as the vaccine against the Covid-19, after the insults and threats made by the coach of OM to the 'against a journalist from

La Provence

last Wednesday.

According to the noises of the corridors, it was rumored that all the journalists present on the spot Friday had planned to leave the room if the Portuguese did not apologize after his exit more than borderline.

Broadcast on the club's Twitch channel, the conference also attracted a large number of Marseille supporters, ready "for the fight" as one of them wrote in the comments.

For the rest, we will avoid dwelling on the (many) at least aggressive messages written for the attention of our colleague from

La Provence

.

The level of comments under the live twitch of the OM press conference, with almost calls to "be" the journalist, says a lot of the flight ahead of more and more supporters, unable to accept the slightest review on their club

- J. Laloye (@Zonemixte) December 18, 2020

Fortunately, there was no question of a fight on Friday.

Barely installed on the platform at the stroke of 1:30 p.m., the former Porto player took the time to read some notes thrown on a loose sheet.

Finally, he first notified the audience of his astonishment: "I'm a little surprised by your reaction ... I wasn't even aware of that," he muttered, certainly referring to the threat. of our colleagues to boycott his conf 'in the absence of an apology on his part.

Excuses ?

Yes but not that ...

But they ended up coming, we deliver them to you as they are: “I would like to say a moment about the incident which opposed me Wednesday to the journalist Jean-Claude Leblois from

La Provence

.

I had a reaction that I regret, the substance of my thought has not changed but I understand that the form could have provoked your criticisms.

They are fair, as [is] your colleague's defense.

Freedom of expression is one of the most precious human rights.

I have no problem with the press or with criticism, but I have had a bad experience as a person of the two articles which, for me, attack my dignity and my integrity as a professional and as a person.

"

"I had a reaction that a person can not have, I regret it and I am ready to apologize in front of the reporter, he continued.

I had Frank McCourt [Marseille President] last night [Thursday] to clarify my actions, I remain focused only on OM, our players, our staff and all those who love OM.

Now I will move on, there are two games before the break which are extremely important and it is on OM that I want to focus.

Thanks for your understanding.

With that dispatched and the piece of paper thrown to one side of the desk, Villas-Boas couldn't help but add a word to the attention of journalists / boycotters.

"I'll leave it there, anyway, to finish it off, I'm a little surprised that you chose this solution…" he breathed before being cut by a press officer visibly in a hurry to move on thing.

OM refuses to expand on the subject

“Ok, we will attack with questions for the Reims match.

Who starts ?

“, She tried to dodge, without this preventing a journalist from returning to the altercation on Wednesday.

"What interests me, without going over the incident, is that we really have the impression that you are a bit ...", he began by saying before being cut by AVB: “I'm not going to talk about the incident and only about the match”.

"Can we just talk about the game?"

Let's go ”, engages the press officer.

Obviously the incident is closed.

On the side of OM at least.

Sport

OM: André Villas Boas insults and threatens a journalist after an article he did not like

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