The victory, the three points, animation and four goals all from new recruits – Clauss, Nuno Tavares and Luis Suarez for a double – it is an understatement to say that Igor Tudor, 44, made a successful debut in obtaining a big victory over Reims at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, despite the criticism that has accompanied him in recent days (4-1).
Arrived just over a month ago in place of resigning Jorge Sampaoli, Tudor was already challenged after four warm-up matches, which is a kind of record. Another performance, it was also very loudly whistled by the Vélodrome supporters on Sunday before kick-off for its first official match.
This distrust was born from the very uncertain content of the pre-season friendly matches and from a working method reputed to be quite abrupt, which prompted President Pablo Longoria this week to call everyone to order and to the interest superior of OM.
Determined in his options, Tudor did not hesitate to do without Dimitri Payet, the usual captain, at the start of the match (entered in any game) and to launch five of the new recruits from the start: goalkeeper Blanco, Clauss , Mbemba, Leg and Tavares.
“I am clearly very happy, it’s a clear and deserved victory, declared the new Croatian technician in the mixed zone after the Marseille success on Sunday evening. We had a great first period, with intensity, with the desire to move forward, to press, to center, to do what we worked on. It was a little worse then but overall, it’s a clear victory. »
Far from showing revenge towards the supporters, the replacement for Jorge Sampaoli was on the contrary shown to be consensual, even a bit demagogue towards the Marseille stands.
“The whistles in my name? I was inside, I did not hear”
“I congratulate the players and I also say congratulations to the supporters who put on a superb atmosphere, declared Tudor. The whistles in my name? I was inside, I didn’t hear. The fans are always right. We play for them and they do what they want. Without them, there is no football. Me, I have to work for the good of the team, which is also that of the supporters. »
As for the way that presided over OM’s initial success, the Olympian coach, reputed to be demanding with his players, even brittle, has not forgotten anyone when it comes to compliments.
“We had a good match on the wings, they made the difference,” said the former coach of Hellas Verona in Serie A, referring to the performance of Jonathan Clauss, on the right, and Nuno Tavares on the left flank. But others have also been good. All my players are important. The season is long, with matches soon every three days. We have five changes and all players will be important. Maybe not tonight (Sunday), but maybe next game. »