Marseille coach Habib Beye defends pulling Greenwood despite decisive strike

Olympique Marseille coach Habib Beye offered insight into his surprising decision to withdraw Mason Greenwood during the club’s 1-0 Ligue 1 victory over Toulouse on the weekend.

Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker, netted the only goal of the match but was substituted in the 66th minute, raising eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

The move comes amid speculation over Greenwood’s future at Marseille following the departure of Roberto de Zerbi, the coach who had been his staunchest supporter at the club.

The former Senegal international emphasized that the decision was tactical rather than a reflection of Greenwood’s performance.

“I put Mason as a striker, but I wanted him to come and fix the left centre and Methalie, to give room to Quinten Timber and Timothy Weah,” Beye explained.

He added that Greenwood’s instinctive style and a yellow card earned during a scuffle influenced the timing of the substitution. “I didn’t want us to end up with 10 in that match. It was a precaution I took at that moment.”

Beye also highlighted the team’s broader management strategy, noting that the plan included giving Amine Gouiri 30 minutes to reintegrate into match play after intensive training sessions.

“He did two days of high-intensity training, which is a very good thing. We managed that moment well,” Beye said.

Despite being substituted, Greenwood’s contribution was decisive, with Beye acknowledging the striker’s impact.

“Mason gave us a fantastic goal and I think it’s a group victory,” he remarked, underlining the collective effort behind Marseille’s narrow win.