EXCLUSIVE | Chris Waddle: ‘If Marseille want to challenge PSG, then they have to get their house in order’ | OneFootball

Retired England international and Olympique de Marseille winger Chris Waddle sat down with Get French Football News to discuss his former club and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

It’s another rebuild for Marseille. Can you explain why the club lacks stability? 

It always has. I was lucky to catch them in a good patch under Bernard Tapie. We won the league three years [in a row] and reached the Champions League semi-finals and final. Obviously, we didn’t win it, but we got to a semi and a final. They won the Champions League in 1993 and then got relegated. Then they came back up and hovered around the league; they went good again, and then they went bad again. 

It’s Marseille. It’s as simple as that. You don’t know what you’re going to get, season to season. There’s a big turnaround of players: players coming in, players going out. A very disrupted dressing room. Some players were let go because they were fighting and arguing. It’s a very passionate football club, on the field and off the field. There are going to be a lot of stories coming in and out of Marseille, but if they want to challenge Paris, then they have to get their house in order. They need to get stable players and players that are on board, and not chopping and changing every transfer window. That’s the key: you can’t have the turnaround that Marseille’s had over the last two to three years. You can see why managers have left – sacked some of them, obviously  –  they’ve thought, ‘I want to get out of here.’ You don’t know what’s happening; a player could be gone next week, a new player could be arriving, and you’re thinking, ‘What’s going on?’ 

When I was there, there was a lot of turnaround. But Bernard Tapie had a picture [in his head] and knew what he wanted to do. And yes, we did change managers, but he had an idea of why and where we were going. But at this minute in time, the club just seems to buy four or five players, and then in January, another five come in. And you can’t get a settled team when you keep chopping and changing players and coaches; you need to have a picture of where you’re going, and it might take two or three years, but you can’t expect to buy success by buying five players and then getting rid of five players. It ain’t gonna happen. 

What did you make of Roberto De Zerbi joining Tottenham?

I was pleased. I like him. I think he did a good job at Marseille. I think it was a hard job. I think he’ll admit that it’s very demanding. Marseille expect to win everything, and I think eventually it took its toll on him. He must have thought, ‘I’m sick of the turnaround here. I want a settled team. I’ve had enough.’ [And] to get the Tottenham job, he must have been delighted. Like Marseille, it’s a big club. A lot of turnaround, but I’m sure he can stabilise it. I think Tottenham are a bit more laid-back than Marseille. So I think he’ll get time to build a team and not have it dismantled. I thought he did well at Marseille. It wasn’t an easy job chasing Paris. To do the Marseille job, you’ve got to have thick skin, as they want to have success yesterday. 

Who are your favourites to win the World Cup?

I think Spain or France will win it. I think Spain will be able to handle the conditions better than most European teams. Spain is a very hot country. They play a game of possession, and they can go through the gears when they need to. They’re technically gifted. I just think it’ll suit them, the conditions and everything. Listen, I’m not saying they’re out-and-out [favourites]; they’ve won it; let’s go home. They can have bad games like everybody else. 

I think France again, a lot of the players play at a good level of football. They’ve got some really top players, and they’ll be disappointed if they don’t win it. It’s not about saying ‘Can we get to the semis? Can we get to whatever?’ Teams like Spain or France will be looking at the tournament and looking at the teams in it and saying to each other, ‘If we don’t get to the final at least, we’ve been disappointing.’ 

When you see Didier Deschamps making space for a creative maverick like Rayan Cherki in his squad, do you think England remains too reserved a national side? 

We’ve had five number 10s in the squad at one stage. We’ve had Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Jude Bellingham, and Morgan Rogers. We’ve had a lot of number 10s who’ve had opportunities, and some didn’t make the plane, like Phil Foden. Palmer and Foden. Eze’s going to be a player to come on, I think. Bellingham to start. I’d say on form this season, Rogers should start. So we’ve got quite a few number 10s now. I think the problem facing England will be. Can we defend well? I’m not too convinced of the back four. I think going forward, we’re alright. We can cause problems, but I think the big thing for England will be the conditions. I think the key will be with the subs. Will they be able to come on and reach the level or make the level even higher? So [Thomas Tuchel] could be calling on players to give a good half an hour to change the game. A lot of people will say, ‘Can it be that hot?’ It is. This is going to have a massive say on the tournament, and you’re going to be looking at teams that can handle the heat. I look at the squads, and I look at the conditions, and I just think that Spain and France should be able to handle that very well. I’d be very surprised if one of them don’t win it. 

What did you make of Thomas Tuchel’s selection?

There were a couple of players I was a bit surprised by. Djed Spence was a surprise choice. Reece James is a talented right-back who can play in midfield, but he’s been injured a hell of a lot throughout his career. 

Defensively, Dan Burn, what is he, 34 now? Jordan Henderson, a very good pro. These must be [picked because they’re] very good for the changing room, character-wise. I think we could all write down twenty number 10s, but you’re not going to pick twenty number 10s. He’s analysed the squad; he’s looked to see who the leaders are and what players are popular in the changing room. I think players like Henderson and Burn might not even get a game, but they must be good in the dressing room. They’re experienced, and he saw something in them. 

I like Thomas Tuchel. I think he’s picked a squad to win matches rather than pick who the media want. He’s not been afraid to leave big-name players out. I’ve been impressed with that. Just a couple of questions for me. Why’s Lewis Hall not there, who’s had a great season at left back? Or even Tyrick Mitchell at Crystal Palace, who won the UEFA Europa Conference League – a natural left wing-back. 

So there are a couple of questions, but I’m sure every country has people like me who question their squads. If Thomas Tuchel wins it, we’ll all say he got it right. If we get to the semi-final or even the quarter-final, I think he’ll have done well. If we get knocked out in the group stages – which I don’t see happening – then there will be some serious questions for him. 

Chris Waddle was speaking exclusively to GFFN on behalf of NewBettingOffers.co.uk. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland