Dimitri Payet: “Marcelo Bielsa Is Marseille’s True Summer Signing”
For Dimitri Payet, Olympique de Marseille’s best acquisition this season wasn’t a player—but their coach, Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine tactician, known for his meticulous approach and intense personality, has transformed OM’s fortunes, and Payet is one of the biggest beneficiaries of his methods.
“He said he didn’t get the recruits he expected, but the recruit was him,” Payet told L’Équipe. “He talks to us a lot, asks us how we are, shows us that he has confidence in us.”
Nicknamed El Loco (“The Madman”), Bielsa’s so-called madness, according to Payet, comes not from eccentricity but from his relentless attention to detail and unique training philosophies.
“If he’s crazy, it’s in his work. He never stops, he dissects the smallest detail, he reviews our matches. His methods are different—you can tell they are not French methods,” added the midfielder.
Bielsa’s impact is undeniable. Marseille currently leads Ligue 1 with a seven-point cushion over second-placed PSG, riding a remarkable run of eight consecutive victories. As the team prepares to face Lyon on Sunday, momentum and belief are firmly on their side—driven by the man Payet sees as OM’s most valuable addition.
