Ajax – Olympique Marseille: Investigations, Death Threats, And A Game Of Football (3-3)

The football was a welcome distraction for two clubs embroiled in off-field chaos. And perhaps there was a chance for at least one of Ajax or Olympique Marseille to start well in the Europa League, and prepare for a visit to their eternal rivals. 
Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

It started with a rumor that Marcelino had said his goodbyes to the players and was set to resign immediately as manager of Marseille after just seven games. The day before their European campaign began at Ajax it was made official. Marcelino was gone, and tellingly the key to him leaving could be seen in his predecessor Igor Tudor’s departing statement, “a season here is worth two or three seasons in another club.” 

Despite the team being undefeated in the league, underlying tensions were brewing over ‘boring’ performances and came to a head after a 0-0 draw to Toulouse over the weekend. The day after the match a meeting was called between supporters groups and the Marseille board, where the fans declared “war” on the hierarchy and demanded they resign immediately, and more worryingly President Pablo Longoria

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Nick Hartland is a freelance writer focusing on French football. You can find him @NickHartland_ on Twitter. [ View all posts ]

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