This is the scenario that OL opposed, firmly, but without success. This Wednesday evening (9 p.m.), Marseille will host its Olympian rival at the Vélodrome stadium, scene of the attack on Lyon coach Fabio Grosso on October 29. His face bloodied after the bus was stoned by Marseille supporters before arriving at the stadium, Grosso had undergone 12 stitches and almost lost his right eye. Eleven days later, on November 9, the Professional Football League (LFP) decided: the match, canceled at the last moment, will be well played, and still at the Vélodrome.
The wish of Vincent Ponsot, director of football, had not been heard, he who asked “to play this match on neutral ground”, who “only” wanted the team to be able to “play football without being afraid, without risking anything”. Once the LFP’s decision was made, the entire Lyon club immediately shared its dismay. “I didn’t think we’d go back,” Grosso breathed. We didn’t feel protected and we don’t feel protected in relation to the match that is going to come.
Positive point: Grosso will not return to the scene of his attack since in the meantime he has been fired. Pierre Sage, director of the OL training center, was promoted in his place on November 30. That hardly changes anything to the worry that dots the alleys of Décines-Charpieu, where the Lyonnais train. “We didn’t think we would come back or replay that match as if nothing had happened on October 29,” defender Clinton Mata said at a press conference on Monday.
The experienced Angolan international (31 years old) spoke of “a delicate situation and a strange feeling”. “In view of the events, we have a bit of fear because in terms of security, we were promised that everything would go well and that was not the case,” recalled Mata. “Yes, it bothers us to return to Marseille in the same conditions,” young Saël Kumbedi (18 years old) had already said a week earlier. “We are professionals, so we are going to go,” he promised.
Rémy Vercoutre, former OL goalkeeper (2002-2014) converted to goalkeeping coach, has “made himself move quite a few times”, as he told the L’Équipe channel. “But this time, it was the worst,” pointed out Vercoutre. “We were all very affected physically and mentally in the following days,” he described. We saw things almost worthy of war scenes, and the sounds of that evening will stay with everyone.”
Since October 29, Marseille has hosted Lille and Rennes in Ligue 1, without incident. During the reception of Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League last week, 11 Dutch supporters were arrested, who had been strictly prohibited from traveling, as was the case with Lyon supporters this Wednesday. According to La Provence, Ajax did not want to stay in Marseille on the eve of their match, fearing possible insecurity after the incidents of the previous month.
“We are waiting for the transport to be secure so that the players can approach the match in the best possible way,” said Pierre Sage on Monday. Once we are in the match, whether the opponent or the public is against us, it is not a problem. The players are used to that.” However, they are no longer used to winning. Their only victory of the season was won on November 12 in Rennes (0-1), reduced to ten men after 5 minutes of play.
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Last in Ligue 1, OL would remain relegated by winning their late match in Marseille. “We are going there to be ambitious and with the idea of playing, of continuing our march forward, of confirming the good things seen in Lens on Saturday, and of getting a result,” encouraged Pierre Sage. It would be an achievement for Marseille, victorious over Rennes on Sunday (2-0), which has only conceded one goal at home in six L1 matches (4 wins, 2 draws).