Medhi Benatia calls for Marseille lockdown after Lorient collapse | OneFootball

Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia has called for a collective lockdown at Olympique de Marseille following their defeat to Lorient, urging his squad to refocus during a decisive stretch of the season. The defeat comes after spending a week in Marbella in a training camp.

Speaking after the match to media in the mixed zone, Benatia revealed that players have been asked to clear their schedules in order to spend extended time together at La Commanderie, as Marseille look to respond to another damaging performance.

“I asked the players not to plan anything for four weeks,” he said. “We’re going to spend a lot of time together, morning and afternoon, to work.”“We organise training camps to build connections and to work — that costs the club money — and yet nothing changes on the pitch,” Benatia suggested, pointing to a lack of visible return from those efforts so far this season.

“There are people who work from 7am to 7pm for much less than us,” Benatia said. “So if we need to push ourselves and be together more, we will.”

Despite the setback, Marseille remain in the race for a place in the UEFA Champions League, with Benatia insisting the squad must continue to push forward. “We have to stay alive every day,” he said. “But we cannot accept performances like this.”GFFN | George Boxall