Olympique de Marseille manager Bruno Genesio addressed reporters in a Thursday afternoon press conference to discuss his squad’s preparations ahead of their upcoming Ligue 1 fixture against Stade Rennais. Speaking, Genesio provided a crucial update on his roster’s health status while defending his players against recent scrutiny regarding their defensive organization.
According to the source articles, Marseille will travel to Roazhon Park for the opening match of the fourth round of the French top flight without two key midfielders. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadi have both been ruled out of the weekend fixture due to ongoing injuries.
Injury Updates on Kondogbia and Nnadi
Genesio explained that the veteran midfielder is currently undergoing athletic rehabilitation and showing signs of improvement, but declined to establish a concrete timeline for his return to competitive action, preferring to evaluate his progress on a daily basis.
« Geoffrey Kondogbia est en réathlétisation, il va mieux. Je n’aime pas donner de délai sur une blessure musculaire. On doit vivre au jour le jour. On peut peut-être envisager un retour après la trêve », stated Genesio during his media briefing.
Similarly, Tochukwu Nnadi remains sidelined. While his physical condition is improving, the coaching staff has determined he will not be operational for Friday night’s clash in Rennes. Sources indicate that any potential comeback before the upcoming international break remains highly unlikely.
Defending the Central Defensive Pairing
Beyond the medical bulletin, Genesio used the press conference to field questions regarding his side’s recent defensive displays. Following successive defeats against AS Monaco (2-0) and Paris FC (2-3), the Marseille backline drew sharp criticism from pundits and supporters alike. In response, the manager offered a staunch defense of his central defensive partnership composed of Nayef Aguerd and CJ Egan-Riley.
« On pense match après match. On veut progresser, améliorer certains points, notamment l’animation défensive, tout en gardant ce qu’on fait de bien. Notre pressing fonctionne bien. Il n’y a pas de peur, même si on est lucide sur notre début de saison », explained Genesio, emphasizing that building chemistry in central defense requires patience and consistent work on the training ground.
The manager added that the club will not implement drastic tactical overhauls based solely on recent results. Instead, the focus remains on reinforcing collective cohesion and refining positional automatisms as the squad prepares for the rigorous demands of the domestic calendar and European commitments.
Match Context and Next Steps
As Marseille looks to rebound from its early-season setbacks, the coaching staff aims to harness the positive aspects of their tactical pressing while tightening structural vulnerabilities at the back.
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