OM’s teenagers gain minutes under De Zerbi but starts still scarce | OneFootball

Marseille’s teenagers are playing more under Roberto De Zerbi this season, yet regular starts remain elusive.

According to L'Équipe, 18-year-old U20 internationals Darryl Bakola, Tadjidine Mmadi and Robinio Vaz have amassed 532 minutes across four months. That is already four times last season’s 127 minutes shared by five prospects.

Vaz had a bright early autumn in attack. Bakola unexpectedly started in midfield in the 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle, while Mmadi has forced his way into the group.

Momentum has faded, a flat cameo in the 1-0 defeat at Lille early December underlined their in-between status, and Longoria says it is sometimes not easy. With Amine Gouiri out with a shoulder injury, Vaz has not started since early November at Auxerre, a 1-0 win, and he was unused against Monaco, also 1-0, on Sunday, while Bakola has only five minutes in the last three games and Mmadi has dropped out of the squad.

De Zerbi repeats the need to play youngsters, yet he felt early changes against Union Saint-Gilloise, a 3-2 win, were more risk than reward. He has suggested starting them in the cup can be more dangerous than for seniors.

He has called Darryl and Robinio the future and part of OM’s heritage. Longoria, stung by 16-year-old Samba Konaté launching with Leipzig after months at OM in 2023, says the club cannot allow repeats.

Source: L'Équipe