‘I even thought I might score a hat-trick’ – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Olympico brace for Marseille | OneFootball

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted he even began thinking about a hat-trick after scoring twice late on to rescue a dramatic 3–2 victory for Olympique de Marseille against Olympique Lyonnais in Sunday night’s Olympico.

Marseille twice trailed during the encounter at the Orange Vélodrome before the veteran striker turned the match around in the final ten minutes. Aubameyang first equalised with ten minutes remaining before arriving at the far post moments later to complete the comeback.

“We’re very happy to win tonight in a stadium that was absolutely electric. We did it with mentality, for the team,” Aubameyang said in the mixed zone attended by Get French Football News.

Despite Lyon’s second goal, the 36-year-old insisted he never stopped believing Marseille could turn the match around. “When they scored the second, I even thought I might score a hat-trick. It might sound crazy, but the match was open. I kept convincing myself and kept making the effort.”

Marseille coach Habib Beye also praised the striker’s performance and mentality after the match. “It’s incredible, especially the love he has for the game and his presence in front of goal,” said Beye. “The efforts, he never counts them. Aubam stayed for 95 minutes – he pressed, he defended, he worked.”

Beye also highlighted the patience required of experienced forwards. “An attacker can have no opportunity until the 80th minute and then suddenly he has two and scores two. That’s the strength of an experienced striker like Aubameyang – to stay in the match and take the chances.”

At 36 years and eight months, Aubameyang also became Marseille’s oldest goalscorer in Ligue 1 since Larbi Ben Barek in 1955.GFFN | George Boxall