Himad Abdelli clarifies comments about Marseille substitutes after Le Havre win

Himad Abdelli has clarified his remarks about the behaviour of some Marseille substitutes following the club’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Le Havre, insisting that he did not intend to single out any player.

The midfielder’s comments attracted attention after Marseille surrendered much of their four-goal advantage, allowing Le Havre to reduce the deficit to 4-3 in a match that ended in a tense victory for the hosts.

Abdelli had criticised the attitude of some of the young players who came on during the game, prompting reactions to his assessment of their behaviour.

His remarks followed Amine Harit’s criticism of Marseille’s perceived lack of humility after the eventful encounter. The reaction to Abdelli’s comments subsequently led him to explain his position in a message published on X.

The midfielder acknowledged that his initial wording may not have conveyed his intended message clearly. He also stressed that he understood the challenges faced by players who enter a match from the bench, drawing on his own experiences to explain his perspective.

“So yes, maybe it’s poorly worded, but I know how important it is because last season I came in and I was bad (so I experienced that moment). I’m nobody to say anything about a player !” he wrote.

Abdelli’s clarification was aimed at explaining the context behind his original remarks and making clear that he was not attempting to criticise an individual teammate.

By referring to his own difficult experiences as a substitute, the midfielder highlighted that he understood how challenging it could be to make an impact after coming on during a match.

His explanation also placed his comments in a personal context, rather than presenting them as an attempt to question the ability or attitude of particular players within the Marseille squad.

The controversy emerged from a match in which Marseille appeared to be in complete control after establishing a 4-0 lead against Le Havre. However, their opponents’ late response changed the atmosphere around the contest, with the final scoreline reflecting how close the game became despite Marseille’s commanding advantage.

Although Marseille ultimately secured the 4-3 victory, the match generated discussion about the team’s conduct and the reactions of its players.

Abdelli has now sought to clarify his position, acknowledging that his choice of words could have been better while emphasising that his own experiences informed his comments.

The midfielder’s message underlined his view that he was not in a position to judge another player’s performance, particularly given that he had also struggled after coming on as a substitute in the previous season.