Jean-Pierre Papin is not having the best of times at Olympique de Marseille, at least hearing what he says himself. Interviewed by Provencethe current OM youth coach (who initially returned to the club with a role as advisor and ambassador and then changed further in the summer) has denounced an uncomfortable situation affecting him. The problem does not concern the first team coach, Roberto De Zerbi, but rather the relationship with Ali Zarrak, manager of the reserve team.
Papin complained: “I am the coach and I cannot allow this person to decide who my five substitutes are. When players from the first team came to us for playing needs, I always respected the directives, but everything seems to depend on him. I need intermediaries to communicate with De Zerbi or President Longoria, but the problem with this person persists.”
And again: “For three weeks, there have been three cars of private security agents in front of my house. It is an unbearable situation. One day I was approached by two men on motorbikes who ordered me to leave Marseille. I don’t know if this is connected to the situation in the club; I don’t allow myself to think or say it, but I don’t accept it being said that I don’t respect the company’s directives, while I’m experiencing something similar, we can’t move forward: either I stay, or the person goes in question”.