Genesio backs rotation at Besiktas despite OM's three consecutive defeats

Beaten successively by Monaco, Paris FC and Rennes, Olympique de Marseille face one of the most demanding weeks of their season: a trip to Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by hosting PSG on Sunday. Bruno Genesio has made his decision: he will implement a deliberate rotation in Turkey.

The Marseille manager justified this choice by the need to give playing time to players who train at full intensity without yet having had the chance to prove themselves in competition. “For now, some players haven’t yet had the opportunity to show their qualities in a match even though they invest themselves 100% every day in training,” he said at a press conference. “I think it’s time for some of them to have an opportunity to show it in competition.”

This rotation does not mean OM are giving up on the Europa League. Genesio drew on a personal precedent to dispel doubts: “I can take the example of the Champions League with Lille: we played against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday before facing Lens on Saturday. I made several changes on Wednesday and everyone called me crazy before the match. In the end, it went well. Whatever team starts tomorrow, it won’t be a team lined up to say we’re abandoning this match because of the Classique on Sunday.”

The club’s financial situation complicates matters, however. After a summer marked by numerous departures and no new signings, the squad remains limited in depth. Genesio is aware of this and sent a message of patience to Marseille supporters, who will be absent from the trip to Turkey: “There will certainly need to be a bit more patience. The supporters have shown it and I thank them. It may take a little time to get back the Olympique de Marseille that we all want to see again.”