The revolution has been quiet, stable and even a little boring, but Villas-Boas is giving Marseille exactly what they need
By Adam White and Eric Devin for Get French
Football News
“Stable” and “efficient” are not words that describe Marseille’s recent history. The club has gone through a succession of short-lived managerial appointments and false dawns, the collapse of the “Champions Project” (an off-key PSG tribute act) and various near misses with tangible success. When André Villas-Boas arrived at the club in the summer, it looked as if Marseille were in for more of the same, but they are now second in Ligue 1 and, at last, are quietly improving. Stability may have finally arrived.
A generation of young, gifted players is quietly being pushed to the fore under the former
Chelsea and
Tottenham and coach. Boubacar Kamara is gleefully grasping the responsibility as the side’s defensive leader. The 20-year-old usually plays as a centre-back but he is also proving himself adept at the base of midfield – a position he is expected to make his own eventually. Duje Caleta-Car, the 23-year-old Croatian centre-back, has added consistency to his game this season. Lucas Perrin, the 21-year-old French defender, has impressed in his four league starts this season, hastening Kamara’s move into midfield.