JÉRÉMY MOREL WINS OVER MARSEILLE – AND NICOLAS N’KOULOU
Once criticized and even booed by the Velodrome crowd, Jérémy Morel has undergone a remarkable transformation under Marcelo Bielsa at Olympique de Marseille. Initially seen as a temporary solution, Morel has cemented his place in central defense alongside Nicolas N’Koulou, earning praise from both fans and teammates.
Speaking to France Football, N’Koulou admitted he was initially surprised by Bielsa’s decision to deploy Morel as a central defender:
“My first impression was: ‘Maybe he’s putting him there because I haven’t come back yet; the preparation started without me.’ I was still with my family. Since Jérémy is versatile, I thought he would help out.”
But the Cameroonian international quickly changed his mind:
“The more time passed, the more he was there! And I said to myself: ‘He’s not bad either!’ Once the surprise wore off, he kept proving himself. Given what he’s showing, it can’t stop now.”
N’Koulou didn’t hold back in acknowledging Morel’s mental toughness and work ethic:
“After what Jérémy has been through, I’m very happy for him. He’s a hard worker, with huge mental strength, and a good guy off the pitch.”
Morel’s impressive adaptation to the center-back role has been one of the success stories of Bielsa’s tenure so far, proving that resilience and versatility can silence even the harshest critics.
