Crisis meeting set between Marseille players and supporters groups

L’Équipe reports, the Olympique de Marseille players will meet with the supporters on Tuesday as part of the unfolding crisis talks that have enveloped the club. 

Marseille’s have only won once since the start of the year with that victory coming against fifth-tier side, US Thionville Lusitanos. Tension had been beginning to grow behind the scenes over the last few weeks as the team continues to perform poorly and has seen their run in the Coupe de France come to an early end, while their pursuit for Europe has stalled. 

However, the defeat on Sunday to fierce rivals Olympique Lyonnais appears to have been the final straw and the club took action triggering a meeting between the players, the manager Genaro Gattuso, president Pablo Longoria, and other members of the club hierarchy. 

At the meeting, the players were criticised by Longoria and Gattuso as the management angry at recent results called into question the mentality of the squad. 

Marseille crisis meetings continue

Now, the players will have to meet at the training ground, La Commanderie, with representatives of the various supporter groups. This will be the first consultation between the supporters and the club following the notorious meeting in September that resulted in the resignation of then-manager Marcelino after he was allegedly threatened. 

The hope is that Tuesday will help alleviate some of the tension among the supporters before their home game against FC Metz on Friday where strong messages for the squad, management, and hierarchy have been planned. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland