Marseille were flying in December. Now they have no manager, are ninth in Ligue 1 and have been attacked by their own fans
By Adam White for Get French
Football News
First days in a new
Job do not come much worse than Olivier Ntcham’s at Marseille. Signed late on transfer deadline day to replace the Aston Villa-bound midfielder Morgan Sanson, Ntcham awoke to the news that his new boss André Villas-Boas had swiftly asked to resign over his very employment by the club. Ntcham has joined a club that is facing crises on all fronts, has changed beyond recognition in one short week and has just lost one of its greatest assets.
“He was specifically a player that I said no to,” explained Villas-Boas at a surreal press conference on Tuesday morning. “I learned of the signing when I woke up. I offered my resignation, saying I was not in agreement with the sporting strategy. I don’t want the club’s money. I simply want to leave. A gentlemen’s agreement about signing players has been broken. I really liked Marseille, but I’m a professional.”