Rongier wants to “look much better” this season to forget the Champions League

Wash away the affront of the Champions League. Olympique de Marseille intend to “do much better” this season in the Europa League than last year in the Champions League, where they had been in immense difficulty.

“We want to look much better than last year. We are confident, serene. We know that we are facing a great team and that we are in a tough competition, but we want to have a good course, ”said Rongier at a press conference on Wednesday, on the eve of the match in Moscow against Lokomotiv. .

“I hope to see OM protagonist in every match”

Last season, for their return to the Champions League, OM had won only one match and conceded five defeats in a pool where Manchester City, Olympiakos and Porto appeared. “This C1 is behind us. We approach the Europa League in a different way and we have a group with a very good mentality, ”he assured. This season, OM will face Lokomotiv Moscow, Lazio Rome and Galatasaray in C3.

Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli for his part explained that he hoped to see his players “give the best and represent the club in the best way”, even if the schedule will now tighten. “It will be hard to keep up with the pace that awaits us, there will be rotations necessary. I hope to see OM protagonist in every match, ”he said.

“We know that we are still playing against Rennes on Sunday. You have to manage the sequence of matches to keep the same level of performance and maintain the overall rhythm of the team, ”added the Argentinian technician. But for Rongier, OM is ready in this area. “Our workforce will allow us to do that. We have more players, quality players. It will be easier for the coach to find the players a little cooler, ”he said.