Genesio’s OM face Strasbourg as Ligue 1 kicks off amid uncertainty and no signings | OneFootball

Bruno Genesio begins his OM tenure against Strasbourg at the Vélodrome on Friday at 20:45, opening the Ligue 1 season amid uncertainty and with no signings.

According to Le Progres, Marseille began last season at Rennes under Roberto De Zerbi, Pablo Longoria and Medhi Benatia, lost 1-0 and suffered a dressing room bust-up between Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot, then limped to fifth.

The trio have since gone and their successors, including Genesio, inherit no Champions League football and strained finances. On Wednesday, new sporting director Grégory Lorenzi was on the phone, with no clear sign a recruit is imminent.

Genesio said each new campaign feels like a blank page with a few unknowns, yet pre-season brought encouragement, three wins and two defeats, and they approach the opener with confidence. Nearing 60, he has projected calm over the new OM for six weeks.

Guidance from UEFA and the DNCG requires further cuts to the wage bill and continued outgoings after Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Geronimo Rulli and Facundo Medina. Many players could still leave before the window shuts on 31 August at 20:00.

Timothy Weah has been made captain after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lost the armband, the Dane having not accepted a transfer proposal from Newcastle. He said the group are coping but accept the uncertainty. Genesio said he has some input on recruitment with daily talks, and that adversity can sometimes create something strong.

Source: Le Progres

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