Cristian Stellini previews Marseille: “We live for this”
Tue 01 November 2022, 10:20|
Tottenham Hotspur
Cristian Stellini says the players will need hearts and minds with a place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League on the line Marseille’s Stade Velodrome this evening (8pm UK).
The stage is set in the south of France. Both teams know what they need to do to progress - Olympique de Marseille need to win, we need to avoid defeat. It’s all building towards a special night in club football’s biggest competition.
Speaking to SPURSPLAY at the Stade Velodrome on Monday evening, Cristian, on media duties with Antonio Conte suspended, told us: “We do our jobs to arrive to live moments like this, games like this. It’s massive, it’s important to play this game and to win this type of game.
“It’s a confidence boost if we win this type of game and, for us, very important to do our best. If we perform, if we’re focussed, calm and organised, compact, we have the possibility to win. It’s not the game just for the mind, you need the legs, the mind, the heart, power, everything, and without Antonio on the touchline, everyone has to give something more.”
Marseille looked in trouble in the group when they lost their first two games against us at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and then against Eintracht Frankfurt. However, they recovered to beat Sporting Lisbon back to back in MD3 and MD4, only to then lose against Frankfurt again last time out.
“I expect a tough game with energy in all (areas of) the pitch,” added Cristian. “They try to chase the ball in every moment. It will be this type of game. We have to think quickly, because in this type of game the ball moves quickly, and you have to think before you receive the ball, think before your opponent to understand well the movement and strategy they have.
“In our group stage, every team plays the same system, in a different way. Marseille is one of four teams that play with intensity and quality. It’s a team full of talented players like Sanchez, like Guendouzi, also Veretout, they mix energy and quality. It will be a tough game, but we know very well, we study well, and we create a strategy to achieve our target.”
