• Olympique de Marseille will travel to Monaco this Saturday for the 5th day of Ligue 1.

  • The Marseillais begin a series of seven games in twenty days, with the start of the Europa League.

Serious things are starting for OM. After a good start to the season in Ligue 1 with two wins and a draw in three games (the one against Nice will be replayed, let us remember), Olympique de Marseille will have to face a very busy schedule from this Saturday. They move to Monaco, one of their main competitors: "A very important match, the" Monaco - Marseille "are always a great moment, with two very good coaches, it will be a shock", as recalled the defender Léo Balerdi.

This "shock" against Monaco also marks the start of a series of seven games in twenty-three days, while the internationals are already in great demand.

Konrad, who did not return until late Thursday evening in Marseille from the international break with the USA, or Gerson, who will return from the Brazilian selection directly to Monaco, are not sure of being sufficiently rested.

“These sequences, between three qualifying matches, and the one against Monaco which is coming, are very difficult to manage for a club coach because the players arrive very tired.

I will speak with them to see if they are available or if they are too tired ”, regretted Jorge Sampaoli.

"You have to win and win"

“I'm not sure if the coach is going to run, I think there will be some changes.

We're going to play a lot of matches, but all the players are 100% ready, so it's the right time to face these matches, ”reassured Leo Balerdi.

“There is a lot of work on physical preparation, with very good trainers.

We are ready to be at the maximum, and we have more players than last season so I hope we can meet the challenge of winning these matches, ”continued the young Argentine defender.

Because the goal set by his coach, and compatriot, is clear: “With Sampaoli it's clear, you have to win and win.

That's the goal, we have to win against Monaco, against Rennes and in the Europa League ”.

"The best players on the field"

And to win, Jorge Sampaoli will not necessarily turn. “The idea is to put the best team in the best conditions. A coach must think about the good of his team, that's what I think I do by trusting my instincts and putting the best players on the field, ”he replied about a possible rotation of his workforce.

But the coach nevertheless regretted the absence of reinforcement in the final stretch of the transfer window, apart from the arrival of Amine Harit “and his great capacity for elimination”, due to a lack of start.

“There is the position of the coach, who aims for the ideal, and the real situation of the club which cannot always offer this ideal.

We have to accept what is going on, work with what we have and make the most of it.

We would have liked to have had one more striker, but we have to keep working, ”he admitted.

But Sampaoli could quickly count on the return of his star striker, since Arkadiusz Milik will resume collective sessions on Monday, and could play against Rennes next weekend.

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  • Jorge Sampaoli

  • AS Monaco

  • Marseilles

  • Europa League

  • League 1

  • OM

  • Soccer

  • Sport