FFF President Philippe Diallo: ‘French football needs a Marseille competing at the top of the table.’

FFF President Philippe Diallo: ‘French football needs a Marseille competing at the top of the table.’ The President of the FFF, Philippe Diallo, has told La Provence that French football needs an Olympique de Marseille side “competing at the top of the table.” OM were the first French side to ever win the UEFA Champions League, and whilst in recent years, they have continued to challenge at the top, frequently qualifying for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, they have recently fallen on harder times. Whilst the club are currently competing in the Europa League, Marseille head into the international break in the relegation zone and second from bottom of Ligue 1. It is a dramatic fall from grace, caused by a dire financial situation that saw them head into this season with a considerably weaker side than the one that completed the last. Whilst key players left, the financial situation prevented OM from making a single signing over the summer. Bruno Genesio has been clear in his communication: this is not a Marseille side that should be expected to qualify for European competition for next year. Diallo, the president of the FFF, is hoping for an improvement from one of the giants of the French game. “The club is an integral part of our football’s history. Ligue 1 needs a strong Marseille because it is one of the positive rivalries that make our league more well-known and exciting. My hope is for OM to rediscover its splendour and rediscover the position that is their own. The club needs to rebuild. It is in the interest of OM’s supporters and all of French football because it needs an OM competing at the top of the table,” he told the local newspaper. GFFN | Luke Entwistle