Marseille attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet (36) has given a wide-ranging interview for this month’s France Football, in which the former West Ham United player notably spoke at length about departing Marseille manager Igor Tudor.
The former Juventus centre-back did not rely on Payet at all this season to embody his ever-energetic pressing-induced playing style. Payet only played 27 games in all competitions this season, including a mere nine Ligue 1 starts. “I have respected his choices. I was not in his plans but I would have liked for him, sometimes, to trust me more“, Payet said.
Tudor took over from Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli in the Marseille dugout last summer. Sampaoli resigned last summer over disagreements with the board regarding the club’s transfer policy. The Argentine was a popular figure within Les Phocéens, and this was not the case at first for Tudor. Payet recalled a tense pre-season tour of England. “We all got acquainted with someone who was coarse and blunt. In his manners and words, he was authoritative. We were all a bit shocked.“
Tudor indeed showed little patience with players who do not give 100% in training or games alike. Payet, like Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares, had been expelled once from a training session this campaign. Although he was under contract with Marseille until 2024, the Croatian announced his resignation two weeks ago, citing personal and professional reasons. “With a little hindsight, he was excessively harsh at first to mark his territory and implement some measures. Then, it was a bit better“, Payet adds.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
