‘Notably Liverpool’ – Marseille Supremo Points At ‘Disappointing’ Reds To Make Point | OneFootball

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New Marseille president Stephane Richard has namechecked Liverpool to make his point that results are not always dependent upon the level of transfer spending.

Liverpool splashed serious money during last summer’s transfer window, with sporting director Richard Hughes and boss Arne Slot turning the page decisively from the Jurgen Klopp era.

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz were standout big money additions, but the Reds also added other players, such as Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

Liverpool began the season as clear favourites to scoop the Premier League title and potentially embark upon a period of dominance.

However, under Slot, Liverpool have gone backwards at an alarming rate, with criticism over a lack of intensity, something which used to be their hallmark under Klopp.

Marseille are expected to spend this coming summer as they try to close the gap in Ligue 1 and push on in Europe.

The club’s new president, Richard, is fully on board with the ambitions at the Stade Velodrome, but believes that spending needs to be smart and is not simply a case of splashing the cash.

He namechecked Liverpool to make his point, noting the massive spending at Anfield and the disappointing results delivered by the Hughes-Slot axis.

“The ambition is clear, it remains, and it’s been reaffirmed: to establish OM among the select group of European clubs that are destined to play in the Champions League every year, and therefore to finish in the top three in Ligue 1”, Richard said at a press conference (via Maxifoot).

“The ambition is clearly reaffirmed. After that, let’s not prejudge what will happen.

“The summer period is crucial, but I think it’s far too early to talk about that.

“But it’s not just a question of resources; we see, and I’m not going to make sporting comments, clubs that have invested colossal sums but have had disappointing results, notably Liverpool with over €480m spent last summer. Football isn’t just about money.”

Liverpool may not even qualify for next season’s Champions League if their form does not improve over the coming weeks.

Taken over the last 12 games in the Premier League, Liverpool’s form is just tenth in the table, with the likes of Fulham and Brentford both having picked up more points than Slot’s side.

The Reds are also clinging on in the Champions League having been outplayed by Marseille’s rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

Slot adopted an ultra defensive approach at the Parc des Princes, despite the wealth of players at his disposal.