Nicolas Nkoulou Returns to Training with Marseille After World Cup Duty
After a well-earned break following his participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Cameroon, Olympique de Marseille defender Nicolas Nkoulou returned to training on Monday. The club confirmed his comeback via an official statement on its website.
Nkoulou reported back to the Robert Louis-Dreyfus training centre, where he is set to undergo a tailored fitness programme before fully rejoining first-team activities under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa. The centre-back had been granted additional rest following his international commitments in Brazil, as is customary for World Cup participants.
While Nkoulou eases back into action, his teammates have already been hard at work in pre-season training for the past three weeks. Marseille showed early promise under Bielsa by delivering a convincing 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their opening friendly match last Saturday.
Nkoulou’s return will be a welcome boost for Bielsa, who is looking to solidify his defensive unit ahead of the 2014–2015 Ligue 1 campaign. The 24-year-old remains a key figure in Marseille’s back line and is expected to play an important role in Bielsa’s tactical setup as the Argentine coach instills his high-intensity philosophy at the club.
With Marseille aiming to reestablish themselves among France’s top contenders, Nkoulou’s leadership and World Cup experience could prove invaluable in the season ahead.
