Olympique de Marseille receives Angers SCO this Friday (9 p.m.) for the 23rd day of Ligue 1.
OM's right-back, Pol Lirola, is far from the level he displayed at the end of last season, especially in terms of his attacking contribution.
Marseille is only the ninth attack in Ligue 1, and for Jorge Sampaoli the relationship between Pol Lirola and Under must improve.
They had gone as far as Florence to bring him back to Marseilles, and “don't regret it at all, just for bullshit”.
But Méderic Gasquet-Cyrus and his son Marius must be a little disappointed with the level of play displayed by Pol Lirola, the defender of Olympique de Marseille, since the start of the season.
After six very good months under Jorge Sampaoli at the end of last season, punctuated by two goals and four assists, all OM supporters were demanding his return this summer, when he had only been loaned by Fiorentina .
“It started with a total delirium, everyone wanted him to come back so we wanted to go do that, explains Médéric.
We weren't far away so we went there, we made a video and we posted it on the networks.
After that it ignited, especially on the side of the Italian media who wondered: "Who are these crazy people?".
And we did well to do it just for that, to show that in Marseille we are crazy.
»
“One of the disappointments this season”
And it was at the end of the summer that Olympique de Marseille relieved all its supporters by announcing the return of the Spanish side.
In his presentation video, we even see him on the Vespa of another supporter, known on Twitter under the nickname "Le Petit Marseillais", at least as active as Méderic for the return of Pol Lirola.
Well, with @Marius35062247, we picked him up in person at the Stadio de la Fiorentina.
Oh @lirola_kosok!
Come back to Marseilles!
Go OM!#TeamOM @ompassion@planetom13@Toto_RiinaOM@Mode55489648 @TBAudibert @MysteriousFada pic.twitter.com/orb97pJXUn
– Mederic Gasquet-Cyrus (@MedericGC) July 27, 2021
But since this return, the performances of Pol Lirola are not at the level of the expectations of the supporters.
“It's one of the disappointments of the season, recognizes Mederic.
He showed a very good level last year, in defense, but especially in the offensive animation, bringing a lot.
This is the reason why we pushed for his return.
Maybe the team has raised its level, especially at the technical level, and that's too much for him.
I'm very disappointed, but I don't want to pillory it.
»
(No) relationship with Under
A more offensive than defensive disappointment, like the difficulties of Olympique de Marseille, the best defense in Ligue 1, but only 9th attack.
And this year, Pol Lirola has scored just one goal and provided just one assist, in more games than last season.
"We expect a lot from him to make the difference offensively, you know he can put goals or give you assists but he does not bring that", judge Mederic.
The previous season, Pol Lirola played in his lane alongside Florian Thauvin, who has since left for Mexico, and replaced by the Turkish Cengiz Under.
"I think the answer is somewhat related to that," said his coach Jorge Sampaoli.
That's also what I told Pol.
He had a very very good six months last season, and was decisive, especially in attack.
His relationship with Thauvin is different from that with Under, who may be more goal-seeking than Pol.
But it's also up to Pol to put his abilities to work for Under.
He has to work on his performance, it's his responsibility and my responsibility too, we have to solve the problems together.
The Argentine coach continues:
I talk to him every day for the good of the team and for him to become decisive again for us like at the end of last season.
»
The president of OM, Pablo Longoria, also seems to be aware of these difficulties, and he would have even gone so far as to probe Hiroki Sakaï for a return this winter, according to
La Provence
.
Our file on OM
But a return to form for Pol Lirola could benefit another player, also in bad shape after six very good months at the end of last season, Arkadiusz Milik.
The striker, too often deprived of the ball when playing, would welcome the return of crosses and assists from the Spaniard.
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