Marseille boss warns Arsenal loanee Nwaneri: "He needs to adapt"

At one point during the Ligue 1 season, Olympique Marseille were title contenders. Now, six rounds before the end of the campaign, they are close to dropping out of contention for any of the three European competitions!

The management wasn't satisfied with Roberto De Zerbi's work and replaced him with Habib Beye, which turned out to be a terrible move from this perspective. Last night, L'OM lost to Monaco on the road 2-1, while the Senegalese tactician became their first boss since 2005 to suffer three defeats in his maiden seven games on the bench.

They lost two consecutive league games but still sit in fourth place, though the seventh-placed Rennes are only two points behind.

Key Marseille player, Mason Greenwood, wasn't available for last night's duel due to a yellow card suspension, so everyone expected Ethan Nwaneri in the lineup. Beye opted for Hamed Junior Traore instead.

Under De Zerbi, the Arsenal loanee played regularly. Under the African strategist, his playing time became significantly reduced.

The change is complete – Longoria leaves Marseille

And his status isn't likely to change any time soon. At least that's what Beye's remark before the clash against Monaco reveals.

"He [Nwaneri] is a big talent who needs to adapt to the intensity of Ligue 1. He looks like the ideal replacement for Mason but we have several quality players to choose from. He must understand he's come to a very, very high-level club," the 48-year-old said via The Mirror.

In other words, do not expect Nwaneri in the starting lineup.

However, given Marseille's poor recent results, the question is how relevant is Beye's opinion, especially since he's breaking negative records that have stood for over two decades.

After the latest failure in which Nwaneri clocked just 18 minutes, the pressure on the Senegalese could become immense. Once that happens, he may remember the 19-year-old and give him a chance to play in order to save his skin.

A bit hypocritical, but that's how football works.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 28

Friday

PSG - Toulouse 3-1 (2-1)

/Dembele 23, 33, Ramos 90+2 - Nicolaisen 27/

Saturday

Strasbourg - Nice 3-1 (3-0)

/Godo 28, Enciso 36, El Mourabet 42 - Mendy 82/

Brest - Rennes 3-4 (1-2)

/Ebimbe 4, 57, Lascary 70 - Blas 20, Lepaul 34 pen, 74 pen, Embolo 63/

Lille - Lens 3-0 (1-0)

/Haraldsson 44, Correia 49, Fernandez 58 pen/

Sunday

Angers - Olympique Lyon 0-0

Le Havre - Auxerre 1-1 (1-1)

/Ebonog 23 - Sinayoko 15/

Lorient - Paris 1-1 (0-0)

/Dieng 54 - Munetsi 74/

Metz - Nantes 0-0

Monaco - Olympique Marseille 2-1 (0-0)

/Golovin 59, Balogun 74 - Gouiri 85/