Michel: Marseille under construction
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| AFP |
Coach Michel says Marseille are under construction while midfielder Lassana Diarra appealed for patience at the embattled Ligue 1 giants.
The 1993 European champions have had a poor start to the season and lie 15th in the table ahead of Sunday's daunting trip to champions Paris Saint-Germain. They have won just two from eight Ligue 1 matches and are just four points above the relegation zone while already 12 points off unbeaten leaders PSG. Things have not gone much better in Europe where they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Czechs Slovan Liberec on Thursday.
"We're in a delicate situation, we have a great team, a great club but we're in a period of rebuilding -- that's the reality," Michel said. "Supporters expect a lot... but you need a transition period and we've only had a month," added the Spaniard, who only took over the south coast club at the end of August after Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa had abruptly walked out following the first game of the season.
"This Marseille is different given that the team has lost some leaders and its coach, who was also a leader. We have to rebuild. The club has changed half its squad and one week after the start of the season, the coach was no longer there."
Experienced midfielder Diarra pleaded with fans, disgruntled at successive home defeats to relative minnows in Angers and Liberec, not to vent their frustrations on the players.
"We've also had a lot of new arrivals, the mayonnaise takes time to stick," the former Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea player said. "New coach, new method, new players, you also have to take stock and realise that it's not always easy."