Four defeats in five matches: OM in freefall, Genesio plagued by doubt before Clasico

Olympique de Marseille lost 4-1 away at Besiktas on Thursday evening in the first Ligue Europa matchday, extending their run to four consecutive defeats across all competitions — four losses in five matches since the start of the season.

A visibly dejected Bruno Genesio faced the press after the debacle in Turkey. The pattern repeats with alarming regularity: Marseille holds their own for a time before collapsing after conceding a goal. “In the first half we played evenly. Early in the second half, we had the upper hand. We fall apart after the goal,” the French manager observed.

Beyond the result, it is the collective disorganization that concerns the coach. “Our play is fading. We’re losing tactical organization. We’ve also undermined that with no defensive protection. We’re not running together anymore,” he listed, pointing notably to lapses on set pieces. More worrying still, the team appeared to have given up physically and mentally before the final whistle. “What bothers me most is that we let go a bit at the end. We didn’t feel we still had the energy to come back to 3-2.”

Genesio did not shy away from his share of responsibility. “It’s difficult with four straight defeats. It’s not necessarily what I dreamed of… I have to question myself. I can’t ignore that, since the first match, we haven’t managed to correct our mistakes,” he admitted, a rare confession for a manager in post for only a few weeks.

OM must nevertheless recover quickly: Paris Saint-Germain travel to the Vélodrome this Sunday (20:45) for the Ligue 1 Clasico. A clash that Marseille approach in a state of fragility rarely seen at the start of a season.