This Saturday, Marseille will face Valenciennes at the Vélodrome stadium. The significant setback in the first leg (4-1) in northern France appears to have become an added source of motivation for the Marseille team.
Cameroonian defender Nicolas N’Koulou is set to be part of the starting 11 selected by coach Eli Baup. Since joining Marseille from Monaco, N’Koulou has quickly made his mark on the team, showcasing self-confidence and unwavering composure.
“I couldn’t afford to disappoint the family; I had to succeed for them,” he explains.
Inspired by Laurent Blanc, the former French international, N’Koulou has drawn inspiration from Blanc’s style and techniques to achieve his current level of success.
“He’s a genuine Laurent Blanc fanatic; he wanted to watch all his matches on TV. He even tried to emulate him on the field, initiating dribbles against attackers in the area to make a stylish recovery. This didn’t always please the coach,” reveals Benjamin Moukanjo, N’Koulou’s former roommate at the Kadji Sports Academy, as reported in L’Équipe.
