"The remarks made today during a press conference in regard to Pablo Longoria, general manager in charge of football, are unacceptable. The 1-0 loss to Lens in the French league on Wednesday, where he was tactically outwitted by a novice coach, came after an abject team performance last weekend in a 2-1 home reverse to Nimes. ATK. "There are many things to change within the club, notably the team spirit. Ntcham joined on loan until the end of the season from Celtic on deadline day despite Villas-Boas saying he did not want the player. "This decision has become unavoidable given the recent and repetitive actions and attitudes that have seriously harmed Olympique de Marseille and its employees who devote themselves to it on a daily basis. The France No. So, for now at least, hard-to-please Marseille fans have spared him from reproach. Fans have already turned on the players, venting their anger before the Lens game. Marseille then takes on fifth-place Rennes, before going to Lens and hosting league leader Paris Saint-Germain in the same week. He described a chaotic scene at halftime against Lens. Marseille (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas was “suspended” by Marseille on Tuesday after earlier offering to resign as coach at a press conference in which he revealed the Ligue 1 club signed midfielder Olivier Ntcham from Celtic against his wishes on transfer deadline day. "We screamed an awful lot," he said. Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are showing keen interest in signing the £20 million … When you play for Marseille, you must have character.". Fans have already turned on the players, venting their anger before the Lens game. Marseille have taken disciplinary action against Andre Villas-Boas following the Portuguese coach's offer to resign from the Ligue 1 club due to the signing of Olivier Ntcham. Their meeting with Rennes on Saturday was called off after fans stormed the training ground in protest. The long-serving captain wants changes to be made. Six magazines, wherever you go! Marseille (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas has taken charge of Marseille for the last time after being officially “suspended” by the club on Tuesday having earlier offered to resign as coach of the Ligue 1 club over the signing of midfielder Olivier Ntcham from Celtic against his wishes on transfer deadline day. AVB : « Ce match contre Lens sera très important pour lui » Quant à André Villas-Boas, il a évoqué son cas en se montrant optimiste sur la fin de saison du défenseur. We must accept everything that''s going to happen.". After he guided Marseille to second place last season and an automatic Champions League place, fans hailed Villas-Boas for doing so with limited resources while praising the fighting spirit he instilled in the side. Villas-Boas accepted the club's request for time before making a decision on his resignation and he was still preparing the team for Wednesday's trip to Lens. We don''t have the collective strength which helped us do well last season," Mandanda said. "I'm focused on Lens… "We''re just not getting there, there''s a problem in the squad. Mandanda has said similar things before, and it remains doubtful whether this tirade changes anything. Après la défaite des siens contre Lens, ce mercredi (0-1), l'entraîneur de l'OM André Villas-Boas a fait le point sur son avenir au sein du club. "If I''m the one who is responsible, which I am, then I am at the disposal of the directors," he said calmly. Villas-Boas is the latest coach feeling the intense scrutiny at Marseille, the only French side to win the Champions League — in 1993 — yet also the most volatile. "Olympique de Marseille announces the pending disciplinary proceedings of André Villas-Boas. Payet has scored six goals in 21 games this season, compared to 12 in 27 last term. Dimitri Payet, whose three goals helped France to reach the 2016 European Championship final, has been off form and more like the erratic player who frustrated fans at his previous clubs. Villas-Boas claimed the Celtic midfielder, who joined on loan until the end of the season, was not a player he wanted and said he did not agree with the club’s “sporting policy”. Villas-Boas accepted the club's request for time before making a decision on his resignation and he was still preparing the team for Wednesday's trip to Lens. Fans have already turned on the players, venting their anger before the Lens game. However, unlike some other players, Thauvin''s work rate remains high. “This club has already lived through two or three years of nonsense in … Marseille have won just one of their past eight Ligue 1 matches, with a 3-1 loss at Monaco last time out their third straight defeat. Villas-Boas sounds resigned to his fate as Marseille''s coach, Race For I-League Top Six To Be Decided On Enthralling Super Sunday, ISL: NorthEast United Beat Kerala Blasters, Qualify For Playoffs With Best-ever League Finish, We Expected Motera Wicket To Hold Up Little Longer Than It Did, Says Chris Silverwood. Marseille is in sixth place, but the position could soon get worse with tough games ahead. I''m not here to become an obstacle.". “I do not agree with the sporting policy,“ said Villas-Boas, speaking on the eve of Marseille’s game at Lens. According to reports from The Sun, West Ham United are considering making a bid for Morgan Sanson in the January transfer window. 2 has been an ever-present since 2007, aside from one season in England, and is nearing 600 games for Marseille. the Portuguese coach's offer to resign from the Ligue 1 club due to the signing of Olivier Ntcham, Ljajic Makes It 3-0 To Besiktas In Quick Fashion, When Valbuena Resparked Marseille-Lyon Rivalry, Vincent Aboubakar Doubles Besiktas' Lead To 2-0. (AP) ATK Possible sanctions may be taken against André Villas-Boas following disciplinary proceedings.". "I don''t have a problem with that. Firing Villas-Boas would involve paying a considerable amount of compensation, however, and Marseille can ill afford to shell out money firing and re-hiring since it is heavily cash-strapped. Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that the 26-year-old is being wanted by several Premier League clubs this month. "We have to do a lot of soul-searching, individually and collectively. "His exceptional achievements should not be questioned and, on the contrary, were welcomed by all during this winter transfer window which was affected by an unprecedented crisis. We continue until the board lets me go," he added. Download the Outlook ​Magazines App. At 27 years old he''s in his prime, yet he could leave for free in the summer when his contract ends. "I'm focused on Lens. But Thauvin remains a highly rated player, having netted 70 goals and provided 45 assists in 187 games for Marseille. Confronté à une pénurie de joueurs à l’OM, André Villas-Boas pourrait en profiter pour lancer sa dernière recrue Olivier Ntcham (24 ans) à Bollaert mercredi contre le RC Lens (21h). Villas-Boas did not even try to defend himself. Paris, Jan 21 (AP) Speaking with an air of resignation, Andre Villas-Boas accepted his time as Marseille coach might soon be up following another home defeat. But tight-knit camaraderie was nowhere to be found against Nimes or Lens, prompting a furious reaction from veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. The former Tottenham and Chelsea boss consequently felt his position was no longer tenable and offered to leave, citing a disagreement with Marseille’s sporting policy. On Saturday, Marseille travels to face fourth-place Monaco, which is in fine form having won four of its last five matches. Winger Florian Thauvin is short of his best after spending almost the entire last season injured. His scoring return of six in 25 this season — at a ratio of .24 goals per game — is way below the 59 in 134 from 2016-19 at a ratio of .44. Andre Villas-Boas expects to leave Marseille at the end of the season after the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss admitted to an "abysmal" failure.