His choice to join Olympique de Marseille: “This choice was simple. We spoke with the president for several hours. I had convictions about OM. It is the only club to have won the Champions League. He has problems now, but he has values. I thank the players who were very available during these first two days. I know that I’m arriving in a place with a very warm atmosphere, that doesn’t scare me. Of course, you have to have results to create enthusiasm. My past showed that I was not afraid of arriving in hot places.
His style of play: “I think there is a difference between the Gattuso player and the Gattuso coach. I have a different vision of the game. I like to start from the back, to have control of the game, to be in numerical superiority. I want to have a compact team, which makes the jersey wet, especially for our supporters. I want us to play like a team. When we miss a pass, I want us to recover the ball, without getting angry at our teammate. I want an offensive game and play in the opposing camp. Marcelino? I don’t like to talk about my predecessors, but I have a different vision. I’m not a fan of 4-4-2, I prefer to play 4-3-3. I like to press high, take risks. I want to play a lot on passing, on possession. You have to accept one-on-one duels, that’s football. (…) As far as matches are concerned, they are won in training. I want us to increase the intensity. We rely on physical data in training. Modern football has this need for intensity, to break the lines, to be one against one. You have to have a fast team to get out of the pressure. I have a staff who helps me. We use video a lot for our opponents but also for ourselves.
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The defeat against PSG last Sunday: “I saw the match against PSG. PSG is unplayable, the players understand the precepts of their new coach (Luis Enrique). The team didn’t have a good result, but I liked the state of mind, of not giving up, the pride. PSG dominated and they will do so against a lot of teams.”
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His ambitions: “I think the watchword is Europe. I have an option for an additional season which is linked to qualification for the Champions League. So I hope we finish in the top four. That’s the goal, even if we have very high-level opponents.”
His management: “When I started coaching, I relied on the technicians I knew. Over time, things have changed. I changed my vision of the game, I had a more sector-based vision. In Valencia, I started to break the line of four, to put inverted feet. I also try to change my ideas but also to adapt to the players. If the team doesn’t have the characteristics that suit my game, it’s not worth it. I know that Ligue 1 is a championship with a lot of racing and speed. The championship is unpredictable. (…) “In terms of my character, if you look at my career, there are few people who have spoken highly of me because of my playing career because I played aggressively. But as a coach, I speak with the players, I am transparent. They appreciate it when we tell the truth. I say what I think but I’m honest. The thing I need to improve on is my relationship with leaders.”
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The history of OM and the Vélodrome: “The Stade Vélodrome is one of the rare stadiums that resemble those in South America. I played it once. It’s an atmosphere that gives you goosebumps, it shakes. It’s something positive for the club. I remember when I was little, there was Didier Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Papin. I know that OM has a great history. To come to this kind of club, you have to have broad shoulders. I like it. It looks like Naples.”
The difficult context: “I have already experienced difficult situations with protests. We talked about the context, and potential solutions, with the president (Pablo Longoria). I joked with him that I was ready to take a slap. The situation is difficult but we have to get out of it. It’s hard. You have to win matches. We must not focus on the protests but focus on the future. You only live once. I couldn’t refuse Olympique de Marseille.”
Monaco, OM’s next opponent (Saturday at 9 p.m.): “The bravery of a coach in such a situation is to do the least damage. We did very good training, especially in the defensive phases to prepare for this weekend’s match. AS Monaco is a good team, they have a very vertical game. We will have to suffer, it will be such a mental match.”
Comments collected at a press conference
