Olympique de Marseille (OM) finds itself in the throes of a new crisis, marked by the departure of Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso less than five months into his tenure. The club’s inability to secure positive results both domestically in Ligue 1 and on the European stage contributed to the decision to part ways with Gattuso.
Currently positioned ninth in Ligue 1 with 30 points, Marseille, boasting the talents of Chancel Mbemba, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaïla Sarr, and Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, has faced continuous disappointment. The return of these African stars from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations failed to alter the downward trajectory of the team, which has not secured a victory since December 17, 2023.
With a winless streak extending to seven matches across all competitions, OM took the drastic step of dismissing Gattuso, who had initially revived the team following Marcelino Garcia’s departure early in the season.
The latest blow came on Sunday during the 22nd round of Ligue 1 fixtures, with a defeat against Brest amplifying the frustrations for Gattuso.
The Italian coach, despite his best efforts, seemingly lost the means to inspire his players, leading to his impending departure.
Exclusive information from Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato disclosed that Gattuso is already preparing to step down and is expected to be absent from the bench for the Europa League play-offs against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.
Sources suggest that the Marseille squad’s perceived lack of character in recent weeks has eroded Gattuso’s determination.
His close associates assert that they see no viable solutions to reverse OM’s fortunes, squarely placing blame on the players.
The imminent official statement from the Marseille club will shed more light on the situation, as the team continues to grapple with a crisis that has persisted for nearly a year.
