Speaking to the press ahead of Marseille’s final Europa League group stage clash against Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, manager Gennaro Gattuso highlighted the need for OM to qualify top of the group, avoiding the Europa League play-off stage in February. The Italian boss’s comments were transcribed by Get French Football News editor George Boxall at the Amex stadium.
“I’m nervous for the match [tomorrow], it’s a question of mentality rather than tactics […] we’re going to play in a beautiful stadium against some really great players. But we know that we’ll play two less matches [if Marseille progress as top of the group]. We need to try and win tomorrow so we can win the group.
Knockout stage play-off ‘not a catastrophe’ but gives helpful ‘margin’ in February
When asked about the importance of qualifying at the top of Group B in the Europa League, the Italian said “Catastrophe? No. But it will be helpful in terms of players that will be away at AFCON . If we have this margin in February after AFCON then that would be ideal to welcome players back, so it gives us a lot more [time]. We are there to win.”
GFFN | George Boxall
