Olympique de Marseille finally secured their first victory of the Ligue 1 season this Saturday at the Vélodrome, claiming a 5-2 win over Paris FC. After the setback in Rennes on the opening day, the Olympians had to deal with the tense atmosphere surrounding the “Rabiot affair,” but young players like Bilal Nadir and Angel Gomes rose to the occasion both on the pitch and in front of the media.
Coming on in the 63rd minute with OM still being held, the 21-year-old Moroccan midfielder immediately changed the course of the match. Sharp from his very first touches, Nadir drew a foul from Lohann Doucet, allowing Aubameyang to score his second of the game and put OM back in front (73’). Just a few minutes later, he showcased his skill again by setting up Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg with a clever backheel for the home side’s fourth goal (81’).
Speaking to beIN Sports after the match, the Atlas Lion stated:
“When I came on, the score was 2-2. I tried to push forward and create space.”
Then, a few moments later in the mixed zone after the match, he added:
“It feels good to win this kind of match, and I think we did it in a great way as well. What matters too are the three points, which is very important. As players, we are obviously affected when there are whistles, but I think the team reacted well after Paris FC’s equalizer. We managed to get the supporters back on our side. It’s not always easy, especially at OM, and considering the kind of preseason we had. Of course, there are high expectations around us. We always have to win convincingly and by large margins. We scared ourselves a bit, yes, but we take the three points. We have all the qualities to have a great season. We knew the fans were with us.”
“We, the players, are not responsible for everything that happens. We just try to give our best on the pitch. Last week in Rennes didn’t go well, but we worked hard this week. We’re happy to give this victory to the supporters. This win really feels good. As a player, I try to block out all this talk (the Rabiot affair). Those involved have addressed it publicly this week; I have no say in it. Adri is someone I care about a lot, and it’s true he helped us a lot last season. We don’t know what the future holds. It will be a decision for the coach and the management.”
Thanks to his decisive entrance, Bilal Nadir confirms his key role in the Marseille squad and shows promising signs for the rest of the season.
