Against Rennes this Sunday (5:00 p.m.), the choice of Jorge Sampaoli as the titular goalkeeper is eagerly awaited in Marseille.
Workforce management and classic rotation or outright unbolting of the statue of Commander Steve Mandanda? By establishing Pau Lopez twice in a row for OM goals, Jorge Sampaoli has created uncertainty in a position where the holder has been irremovable for 15 years. On the subject of goalkeepers, the Argentine is not very talkative, but his choices speak for him. Last Saturday in Monaco and then again Thursday in Moscow in the Europa League, he chose Pau Lopez at the expense of Steve Mandanda. Two matches are a clue, three would be a clear trend and his decision for Sunday’s game against Rennes will therefore be eagerly awaited. Especially since it will be played this time in front of more than 50,000 people at the Stade Vélodrome, where Mandanda is a legend.
Saturday at the Stade Louis II, the Marseille supporters were only a few hundred parked, but they sang loudly “The phenomenon», The song dedicated for years to Mandanda, when they learned that the captain would be on the bench. “For Mandanda, even if we know he is a legend of the club, we want a rotation. Pau Lopez recovered and we wanted to see him play. We must try to give everyone minutes and we knew he was going to answer present“, Sampaoli explained after the match, won 2-0 by OM without Lopez needing to make the slightest stop. In Moscow, the Spaniard was a little more in demand, for an average record. On the goal conceded at the end of the match by Marseille, its responsibility is not engaged but pushing back Ajorin’s strike would not have been a feat either. In the first period, however, he was poorly placed on the shot from Smolov who ended up on his post. The most positive aspect of his game is his ability to move very high, intercept balls from deep and throw quickly with the foot, although he also got his feet tangled on easy control.
e wanted to give Pau Lopez one more game, but Mandanda will also have the opportunity to play ”
Jorge Sampaoli
This ease at the foot and this participation in the game are precisely what Sampaoli expects in priority from his goalkeeper. The former Argentina coach, however, was again very evasive about his choice before the match – “I wanted to give Pau Lopez one more match, but Mandanda will also have the opportunity to play– and did not comment on it afterwards. The file is still sensitive. At 36, Mandanda is nearing the end of his career, which the club must logically prepare. The arrival of a new goalkeeper likely to compete with him was not a secret and the French world champion himself judged it “logic». «The arrival of Pau is something normal. It was necessary to take a guard. It makes sense for a goalkeeper to arrive this season. You have to deserve to play, to wear this jersey. If we are efficient, we play. Otherwise we don’t play“, He summed up at the start of the season.
During his time in Brazil, Santos then Atlético Mineiro, Sampaoli, who was never particularly rave about Mandanda, had not hesitated to dismiss the keepers in place. In Marseille, the bet would involve risks and could turn into a real stone in his shoe. Arrived at OM in 2007, Mandanda has indeed lived it all, knows it all and is the record holder for the matches played (596). Lopez, he comes out of two middle seasons at AS Roma, marked by a spectacular error in a derby against Lazio and a certain mental fragility. If it were to take the place of “PhenomenonThe pressure on his shoulders would be immense.
.
