As the crucial match of the Champions League against Real Madrid approached, Leonardo Balerdi, captain of the Olympique de Marseille, approached the critics with resignation and determination. Conscious of the increased competition in defence with the arrival of Pavard and Aguedd, he focuses on the collective strength and potential for improvement that these new players bring. Balerdi sees this competition as an engine of personal progress and is committed to contributing to the success of the team. This attitude reflects a maturity and a willingness to be part of an ambitious team project, particularly necessary in a Champions League context where resilience and adaptation are paramount.

The preparation of the Olympique de Marseille for the match against Real Madrid is complicated by the absence of Nayef Aguerd, injured in the head and under concussion protocol. This unavailability represents a hard blow for the team, which will have to review its defensive plans. Facundo Medina should take its place alongside Pavard, while Balerdi could be titularized despite recent mixed performances. This situation is in addition to Amine Gouiri’s absences, making the task more arduous for OM, already deprived of several key players. The team will have to show depth of strength and adaptability to face the power of Real Madrid.

At the same time, the president of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Longoria, defended the club regarding the turbulent departure of Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe. He stressed the need to step back and focus on a long-term vision, saying that he had no regrets about the decisions taken. Rabiot and Rowe, now at AC Milan and Bologna respectively, met in a match in Serie A, Rabiot being particularly outstanding. Their departure from OM, motivated by internal conflicts, marks a new stage in their respective careers, while stressing the will of the Marseille management to preserve the cohesion of the team.