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Medhi Benatia, sporting director of Olympique de Marseille, criticized his team's performance after a defeat to Lorient, calling it 'a scandal.' He expressed frustration over the players' lack of pride and desire in a crucial match.
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āA scandalā ā Sporting director Medhi Benatia fumes at Marseilleās defeat to Lorient
Olympique de Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia launched an extraordinary rant after OMās defeat to Lorient, branding his sideās performance āa scandalā and accusing the players of showing too little pride, desire and respect for the club.
Speaking after a damaging loss in what he described as one of Marseilleās āfive finalsā, Benatia said he had not planned to speak publicly again before the end of the season, but felt compelled to intervene after what he saw as an unacceptable display.
āItās a scandal,ā Benatia said in the mixed zone at Lorient, transcribed by local media outlet Le PhocĆ©en. āWe were playing against a team that is almost already on holiday, even if they have quality, and we are playing the first of our five finals. We organise training camps to build connections and to work, and yet nobody reacts in the dressing room. Everything is calm, as if nothing happened.ā
The former Morocco international reserved particular criticism for Marseilleās lack of aggression and urgency, insisting that a team with Champions League ambitions must show far more on the pitch.
āYou play for Olympique de Marseille, you produce a match like that and you accept it. I do not accept it,ā he said. āWe didnāt win a duel, we didnāt make a run forward, we didnāt try anything. We just watched the opponent play. When you talk about a Champions League objective, it has to be visible on the pitch. Here, it wasnāt.ā
Benatia also admitted he could not explain OMās continued inconsistency this season, referencing similarly poor performances against sides such as Club Brugge, and .
Medhi Benatia described the defeat as 'a scandal' and criticized the players for lacking pride and desire.
He felt the team's unacceptable performance in what he termed one of their 'five finals' warranted immediate public comment.
He noted that the atmosphere in the dressing room was calm, as if nothing had happened, which he found unacceptable.

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āI canāt explain it,ā he said. āWeāve had this kind of match several times this season and itās inexplicable. During the week, we work well, but in matches it doesnāt always show. Some players may go elsewhere and people will say they are good players. But here, they wonāt have made the effort. That is the most serious thing.ā
Benatia will depart the club at the end of the season, after being called back to the club by owner Frank McCourt when he handed his own resignation following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi earlier this year.