Football. Coupe de France: OM ambitious, Boudjellal frustrated

The large number of Boudjellal

Mourad Boudjellal occupies the field. Majority shareholder of FC Hyères since February 2021, the former RC Toulon (Top 14) president hoped to receive the OM at the Stade Mayol, where he achieved his greatest successes with the RCT.

But the authorities refused for security reasons and scheduled the match at the Francis-Turcan stadium in Martigues. Boudjellal does not take off. “Not being able to play with us is unthinkable. It’s a big disappointment, “he said again this Friday in an interview with Provence.

Throughout the week, the founder and former CEO of the comic book publishing house Soleil Productions multiplied his interventions and provocations, up to a video posted on social media, inspired by the film Les Collegues, in which he assures that Hyères could decide to face OM with a team made up of several women and a recruitment manager in n°9.

“On Saturday morning I will decide which team will play against Marseille. There will be 11 humans on the ground,” he said on Friday.

The context of this confrontation with OM is all the more explosive as Boudjellal was once a candidate for the purchase of the Marseille club, for a nebulous attempt made alongside the French-Tunisian businessman Mohamed Ajroudi.

“So much the better that didn’t happen with OM. He was too big to start. I think I would have failed miserably. And that I would be driven out of Marseilles with tar and feathers, ”she summed up last week on the JDD.

The OM aims for the trophy

“It’s a real goal. It is very important ”, explained the president of OM Pablo Longoria on Thursday, who came to greet the press at the Commanderie and whom he assured he had not had direct contact with Mourad Boudjellal.

The message obviously circulated in all layers of the club, because Marseille’s ambition was repeated by all as an element of language. “We were eliminated in the European Cup, we only have the Coupe de France left. We will try to go all the way,” promised Valentin Rongier after Montpellier’s Ligue 1 success on Monday.

“It’s a competition we want to win. We know it’s been a long time since OM won a trophy. In front, they will be there to tickle us but we are used to these matches that should not be underestimated,” Pape Gueye said on Thursday.

Coach Igor Tudor also warned of the “risk of underestimating the opponent”, recalling the incident that occurred two years ago, when OM lost on the lawn of Canet-en-Roussillon, another N2 team. “You have to start from scratch. This trophy is in front of us and with four or five wins you can play in a final. That’s the motivation,” said the Croatian coach.

Marseille has declined

With Harit’s injury and the already confirmed departures of Suarez, Gerson and Touré, OM will be in a small group for these round of 32. Especially since Nuno Tavares is disqualified, Clauss and Gigot injured and Payet very uncertain.
“But we will have a good team. We must not leave the opponent the chance to believe that they can do it,” Tudor launched.

The Marseille coach also announced that Ruben Blanco will play in goal in place of Pau Lopez and that Bamba Dieng would start. “Not because it’s the Cup, but because it’s important and strong. I want to use it more,” he explained.