Zero goals in three matches. The Olympique de Marseille attack has been down for more than a month in Ligue 1. And that explains – at least, in part – its (recent) poor performances. However, on paper, with Amine Harit, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaïla Sarr, Joaquin Correa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Canebière team has several talented elements capable of making the difference in the last third of the field, both by the pass…than by the strike.

Logically, Gennaro Gattuso took advantage of the international break to work on the offensive aspect so that his players are able to find the net this Saturday evening (9 p.m.), against RC Strasbourg Alsace, during the 13th day of the championship.

“We had few players available in recent days but with Correa, Vitinha, Aubameyang we did additional exercises on how to attack space, combine, score. These are different reasons and it does not only concern the attackers, but also the entire offensive phase and the use of the ball,” indicated this Friday afternoon, at a press conference, the Italian coach whose results with his new formation are unsatisfactory to say the least in Ligue 1.

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This specific work carried out aims to restore confidence and serenity to the players – and in particular to the offensive elements – who have been cruelly (visibly) lacking it for several weeks. “We have to believe in our strengths, have the conviction that we can score, create chances, score simple goals and there will come a time when we will score. But we have to keep calm because the excitement will not help us,” said the ex-midfielder for whom, beyond the balls lost in the last meters of the opponent, the low “efficiency” of his troops is the one of – if not the – major problems.

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But if the attackers are naturally the first to blame for this lack of realism, they are not the only ones. Modern football involves all players in the defensive phases, and also all players in the offensive phases. And defenders have the opportunity to help their offensive partners. In their own way. This is what Leonardo Balerdi explained to journalists this Friday afternoon: “I think the best way to help them is to be 100% in training. They [the attackers, editor’s note], also helped us a lot in defense […] And it’s time to help them, talk to them in training. We know that attackers walk a lot in series and at the moment we are in a bad series and it is up to us to ensure that they string together goals,” declared the Argentine defender.

To raise the bar in the championship this weekend against RC Strasbourg Alsace (away), Olympique de Marseille will have to be particularly concentrated. It will take “no panic, no frenzy, but character” and “lucidity”, announced Gennaro Gattuso. Will this be enough for the Olympian attackers to regain their level? We’ll have to wait until the end of the evening to find out.