Steve Mandanda's immense presence in goal means Marseille have a genuine chance of becoming the first team to beat PSG this season on Sunday, writes Matthew Spiro.
"Come on guys, if you beat PSG you'll save your season," club legend Basile Boli bellowed enthusiastically to the Olympique de Marseille players ahead of this weekend's Classique. A victory for OM would certainly be a massive achievement - no-one has defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the league for 33 games - and it would also offer some much-needed cheer to a Stade Vélodrome that hasn't witnessed a single league win since September. Yet Basile is exaggerating somewhat. Marseille are 32 points behind their rivals. 32 points! Yes Paris have been exceptional, but it's been a horrible season for the Marseille fans. And even a win over their biggest rival on Sunday wouldn't change that.
t is nevertheless an intriguing prospect. Marseille are belatedly finding some solidity and form - they're unbeaten in their last eleven league matches (albeit a run that includes five home draws). They'll be roared on by 67,000 fans in their stunning and fantastically atmospheric stadium. The trouble is their opponents are extremely good, haven't lost at the Vélodrome since 2011, and have repeatedly outlined their determination to go all 38 games of the season unbeaten. 23 down, 15 to go.
Emerging talents
Marseille's dismal home record coupled with PSG's invincible aura mean the visitors start as big favourites. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - the record goalscorer in the history of this fixture with eight strikes - will be confident of continuing a run that's seen him net 13 times in his last 13 games. Yet the hosts have some good arguments of their own. Flying winger Georges-Kévin Nkoudou has emerged as an exciting and effective foil for Michy Batshuayi. The arrival of Steven Fletcher ensures that for the first time this season Batshuayi isn't the only senior attacker in the matchday squad. Nicolas Nkoulou has at last found a regular defensive partner in Rolando. And crucially, Lassana Diarra, possibly the best player in France this season, is hopeful of returning from injury.he most convincing argument of all, however, is the presence of Marseille captain Steve Mandanda. At 30, the club's longest serving player has been in imperial form this term. I was lucky enough to witness his performance away to Lyon from close hand - standing just behind his goal - and his aura that night was formidable. Indeed, it wasn't so much his perfect handling and his incredible reactions that struck me - although I still can't quite fathom how he saved that shot from Mathieu Valbuena - but rather this sense of power and assurance he gave off. Here was a goalkeeper oozing with confidence in his ability and commanding his defence with utter conviction. So long as Mandanda was there, Marseille's outfield players knew they could get something from the game.
Mandanda class
Marseille should feel very lucky to have a goalkeeper, captain and man of Mandanda's class. Despite the club's frequent shortcomings, he has consistently carried himself in a responsible and selfless way during his nine years at the club. Captaining Olympique de Marseille is an honour and the France goalkeeper has always been conscious of that and behaved accordingly. That is one of the reasons why 'El Fenomeno', as the fans call him, is such an immensely popular figure among the ultras.Not even the most fervent of fans would have begrudged Mandanda had he left OM last summer given the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League. He should most definitely be playing in Europe's elite club competition. With his contract up in the summer (and the one-year extension that has been established depending on specific clauses), several clubs made enquiries last month and rumours were abound in France that Mandanda would finally leave the Mediterranean coast.
Loyalty
The keeper was not convinced by any of the interested clubs, however. He has made it clear he would only leave Marseille for another genuinely big, ambitious club, and no such club was manifesting itself in the first week of 2016. But rather than let the saga drag on - perhaps hoping for a more attractive or lucrative offer - Mandanda posted a message on social media to make his position perfectly clear. On January 7, he wrote: "Out of respect for the Marseille fans, I have decided to break my silence... we've weighed up the pros and cons and I've decided to stay with Olympique de Marseille."In this day and age it's extremely rare to see a player take the responsibility for his future in to his own hands like this. This person clearly does have genuine respect for the supporters, who have suffered enough this season. They didn't have to spend the rest of January worrying that their captain might leave from one day to the next.
his summer will maybe be a different matter. For me Mandanda is enjoying his best-ever season and I believe he is ready to establish himself as one of the world's leading custodians for the next five to seven years. He has always been an immense, athletic presence, superb in one-on-one situations. Yet his improved reading of the game, his aerial prowess and his commanding aura have taken him to another level.
Hugo Lloris is France's captain, and he will remain number one for the European Championship this summer. But Mandanda is currently performing at a level that is very close to - if not better than - that of the Tottenham goalkeeper, rightly considered one of the best in the Premier League. As of next season, there will be genuine competition for France's number one jersey once more. Whether Mandanda will still be at Marseille remains to be seen. Before then, however, there are some important games to negotiate with the nine-time French champions. Starting, of course, at the Stade Vélodrome this Sunday night.
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