Habib Beye explains Amine Gouiri’s absence as Marseille lose to Lille

Amine Gouiri was left out of the starting line-up for Marseille’s 2-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Lille due to tactical considerations and concerns over his fitness, head coach Habib Beye has said.

The striker began the match on the bench before being introduced in the 65th minute, as Marseille sought to change their attacking approach during a game in which they struggled to impose themselves.

Beye explained that the decision had been made to maintain balance within the team, particularly against a Lille side he considered physically strong in midfield.

Starting with a more attacking set-up, he suggested, could have exposed Marseille in a crucial area of the pitch.

“We considered starting with two strikers, but their superiority in midfield would have put us in difficulty. When we changed our attacking approach, this was felt with a loss of control in this key area,” he explained in comments relayed by Maxifoot.

The coach indicated that protecting the team’s structure had been a priority from the outset, even if it meant leaving one of his attacking options out of the initial line-up.

Marseille, however, found it difficult to create clear opportunities throughout the match.

Beyond the tactical reasoning, Beye also pointed to Gouiri’s physical condition as a factor in his decision.

The forward has recently returned from injury and is still working his way back to full fitness, making it necessary to manage his playing time carefully.

“He’s coming back gradually. The idea was to integrate him without taking any risks.”

When Gouiri eventually entered the game, he offered moments of quality, bringing technical sharpness to Marseille’s forward play.

His involvement added some variation in attack, but it was not enough to alter the outcome.

Marseille’s overall performance lacked consistency in the final third, and they were unable to recover after falling behind.

Despite the late introduction of Gouiri, the team could not find the breakthrough needed to avoid defeat.

The decision to ease the striker back into action suggests a cautious approach from the coaching staff, as Marseille continue to navigate both tactical challenges and player fitness concerns.