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·3 March 2024
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·3 March 2024
The meeting between Olympique de Marseille and Villarreal this Thursday will see Marcelino return to the Vélodrome for the first time since he left Les Phocéens in September.
An extraordinary atmosphere will likely meet a manager who had departed the club after he alleged the supporter groups had threatened and slandered him during a tumultuous meeting between ultras and the club hierarchy.
The manager, whilst not present at the meeting, believed that the situation was untenable and that he could no longer work within the environment fostered at Marseille.
However, since leaving the club he has strongly criticised the supporters, “These deplorable events show that it isn’t as big a club as it wants to be. Some radical supporters wanting to constantly influence events prevent it from being a big club.”
This statement will not be forgotten on Thursday by a fanbase that had during his seven games in charge of the club never grown any sense of warmth or attachment to the manager.
As his former player Amine Harit (26) stated to Téléfoot, “It’s going to be fiery, especially with the recent statements he’s made. Honestly, it’s given us even more desire to play a big match on Thursday. They’re going to have to be ready because we’re not giving them an easy match.”