Undisputed technical leader of Olympique de Marseille, Dimitri Payet is achieving, at almost 35 years old, a sparkling season on the Canebière. Great architect of the current second place of the Phocaeans in Ligue 1, the number 10 Olympian regains his level of yesteryear, and this to the delight of Marseille supporters who did not hesitate to crown him king on a recent tifo. A love story that has not always been good. Heckled by the Vélodrome a year ago, criticized for his weight, disagreeing with André Villas-Boas, cold with Florian Thauvin, the OM master at playing confided at length in an interview with L ‘Team. Selected pieces.
The roller coaster, this is how we could sum up the 2020-2021 exercise of Dimitri Payet under the colors of Marseille. Author of a tasteless start to the season and in disagreement displayed with André Villas-Boas, former coach of OM, the French international playmaker (38 caps, 8 goals) has gradually regained his full influence on the Marseille game. Under the impetus of Jorge Sampaoli, who arrived at the club on March 8, 2021, the number 10 Olympian thus ended the year with a bang (4 goals and 7 assists in the last 12 days) and clearly did not slow down the pace. . With 9 achievements for as many offerings this season, the Reunionese fully assumes his role as technical and charismatic leader of OM. Why forget this violent altercation with Florian Thauvin and these whistles from the Vélodrome still very critical of him a few months ago? Not really for the interested party although it relativizes.
“It was perhaps the biggest crisis I’ve had here, but it wasn’t the first. It will certainly not be the last either, so I was relativizing. I knew you had to be good on the pitch to end this episode, so I worked. To find my levelrecognized first of all Dimitri Payet in this interview granted to The Team. In difficulty just a year ago, the one who will turn 35 on March 29 seems to be in full possession of his means. A convincing performance that the former Saint-Etienne also analyzes through the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli on the Marseille bench.
“We had a very brief discussion because we immediately understood each other. He made me understand what he expected of me and what needed to be done to be on the pitch. Between the confidence he gave me immediately and the style of play he put in place, everything was there for me to flourish. We had a very brief discussion because we immediately understood each other. He made me understand what he expected of me and what needed to be done to be on the pitch. Between the confidence he gave me immediately and the style of play he put in place, everything was in place for me to flourish.. In confidence, supported by his leaders, Payet can thus freely recite his score and offer his football as he sees fit. A general revival that the Marseillais also analyzes in the light of greater maturity.
“Since the violence I suffered in the stadiums, I must be the first not to stir up this hatred and to bring calm!”
“I am a straight person. Maybe at some point the current was no longer flowing, or I felt betrayed… As soon as there is a break, things become more complicated, because I have a fairly strong character and the forgiveness is difficult on my side. (…) I work a lot mentally, emotionally. I take my share of the responsibilities but I will not take everything either. I am an explosive person, who liked to talk hot. I try to take a step back now and think before speaking because it can quickly escalate and turn against you. Today, I try to control my emotions. More composed, Payet also admits to having been marked by the serious incidents of which he was the target (against OGC Nice and against OL).
A type of “hatred” pushing him to adopt a different behavior: “whether it was my press conferences where I spoofed, often with the second degree, or my celebrations a little pushed outside, inappropriate words towards a referee. Since the violence I suffered in the stadiums, I must be the first not to stir up this hatred and to bring calm.. Ready to take on the pressure of the Vélodrome, which he considers “a motor” for himself, Payet has finally fully asserted himself in the locker room. Not hesitating to jostle his teammates, the one who recently launched “we will have to deflate the heads a little”at the microphone ofAmazonPrime after the defeat against Clermont (0-2) also knows that the involvement of an entire group is the sine qua none condition for a happy end to the season.
“When you yell, it’s harder to hear than when you talk and explain. Afterwards, there are a lot of egos in a locker room, you have to be careful what you say so as not to offend the pride of some, which I can understand because I have them too. But you also have to know how to be firm, to say things to each other without taking tweezers”recognized the Phocaean as such before going back on his remarks following the setback conceded against the Clermontois: “I want to make it clear that I include myself in everything I say, and even, I put myself first. A locker room is not ”Love, Glory and Beauty”. There are good times but also bad ones, there are bun pulls, there will always be some, that’s how it is.”. His bun, Dimitri Payet continues in any case to wear it on the grounds of Ligue 1. Calm, thoughtful and eager to carry a whole group, the one who affirms “to improve like wine” thus continues its march forward with the same overflowing desire to get the crowds gathered in the lair of the Vélodrome to rise.
