Gouiri-Aubameyang partnership ruled out as Beye details reasoning

Olympique de Marseille coach Habib Beye has explained why he did not start Amine Gouiri alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to LOSC Lille.

Beye said the decision was driven by tactical balance and the need to control midfield against Lille’s setup. “We thought about it, particularly starting with two strikers.

But with the overload they have in midfield, we would have been exposed. We saw it when we switched to two strikers; we lost a player in midfield, and that control was necessary at the start of the match,” he explained.

The Marseille coach also cited Gouiri’s fitness as a factor in his decision. “We mustn’t forget that Amine is coming back from injury; he didn’t have 90 minutes in his legs. We tried to bring him back gradually,” Beye said, underlining a cautious approach to managing the striker’s long-term playing time.

Gouiri did enter the game as a substitute and showed glimpses of his quality, providing a spark to a struggling Marseille attack. “He came on and brought his technical quality,” Beye said.

“But we also know that adding another player up front means losing one in midfield, and we needed more presence in that area. The choices were made based on the opponent and we stand by them.”

Despite these explanations, questions remain over Marseille’s attacking creativity. OM’s performance highlighted a lack of offensive threat, fueling debate over whether Gouiri could have been deployed differently.

Beye acknowledged the limitations but insisted his decisions were deliberate and contextual. “These are choices we make,” he added, suggesting adjustments could come in future matches.

The defeat against Lille has intensified scrutiny on Marseille’s forward options, with fans and pundits closely watching how Beye balances his attacking talent against the need for midfield stability.

The debate over a potential Gouiri-Aubameyang partnership is likely to continue as the club seeks consistency in the league.