“Allow me to start this press conference by showing my admiration for this club, its history, its fans and Marseille”. That is how Marcelino García Toral began his first statement to the media as Olympique coach. Accompanied at the table by Pablo Longoria, the president, and Javier Ribalta, the football director, the Asturian coach gave a speech -which began and ended in French- and then answered questions from the journalists gathered in the press room of the Stade Velodrome.
“I am aware that I have been hired as a coach to ensure that this historic club, the only French team with a Champions League in its trophy room, improves the upward trajectory of recent years,” said Marcelino, who has signed a two years contract with the French side. “Our proposal is based on intensity, being a dynamic, agile and ambitious team.”
Some details of his style
García Toral referenced concepts linked to his figure as a coach, such as order and balance on the pitch, zone marking or pressure after loss. He also stressed the importance of closeness and sincerity in dealing with the players. “Many of the members of the coaching staff have been together for twenty years, and that makes us have a clear vision of what we want to work on and how to do it,” he said. “Our idea and concept of football is similar to what our great fans like.”
There was also time to talk about Luis Enrique, another Asturian in the top flight of Ligue 1, his first memory of the Stade Vélodrome (in 1985, in a match in the Toulon tournament with the U-20 Spanish team) and his relationship with Pablo Longoria, who has made a strong commitment to joining the Olympique de Marseille project: “I have known Pablo for 20 years, and I consider him my friend. But friendship is not at odds with professionalism”.
