Jean-Louis Gasset’s tenure at Olympique de Marseille (OM) has taken a tumultuous turn, with the French coach facing mounting challenges just two months after joining the club following his departure from the Ivory Coast in February. According to reports from L’Équipe, player discontent is contributing to Gasset’s woes.
For the 70-year-old coach, 2024 has been marked by a series of setbacks. Despite a relatively quiet stint with the Ivory Coast national team since 2022, Gasset’s fortunes took a sharp downturn during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Following two defeats and a solitary victory with the Ivorian squad, Gasset resigned from his post in the midst of the tournament, leaving the team in disarray.
Subsequently, his former deputy, Emerse Fae, guided the team to victory in the tournament, casting further scrutiny on Gasset’s tenure.
Gasset’s arrival at Marseille initially sparked hope for a turnaround. Following the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso due to poor results, Marseille’s president, Pablo Longoria, turned to Gasset to stabilize the club amid a crisis.
Gasset’s debut match saw Marseille secure a convincing victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-off, revitalizing the team and earning praise from players.
However, Marseille’s fortunes quickly soured after their Europa League success. Despite initial optimism, the team suffered three consecutive defeats in Ligue 1 following their loss to Villarreal in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The latest defeat, a 3-1 loss to Lille, exposed significant weaknesses within the team and prompted criticism from Gasset himself.
“We controlled the first half well, we had situations to finish, but we were timid. In the second half, we held the match, and we gave away some gifts.
We gave easy balls that launched the opponent. We were very bad,” Gasset lamented during a post-match press conference.
As Marseille’s struggles persist, Gasset faces an uphill battle to regain control and steer the team back on course.
With player discontent compounding the club’s challenges, Gasset’s ability to inspire a turnaround remains uncertain amidst mounting pressure at Marseille.
