The last few days have been very difficult to fathom for the Marseille club management. Besides the bad results in the league, the early elimination from Champions League football, there has been recently attacks by fans.
The hardcore Ultras, who were demonstrating against the club leadership and the team's poor recent run of results, assembled in front of Marseille's La Commanderie training ground, throwing smoke bombs and firecrackers. "Several hundred Ultras used force and violence to get into the training ground, including the first team's building," the club said in a statement.
As if what happened were not enough, coach Villas Boas today announced in a press conference that he offered his resignation to Marseille. The conditions for him to work peacefully and well are simply not ideal. This is what he said:
"I just want to leave Marseille. I am not asking anything else from the board", said the technician.
He also said later: "I’m waiting for an answer, it could be no and then we would continue. I don’t want any money, I just want to leave. We ended the transfer window with a new player [Olivier Ntcham]. He is a player that I had said ‘no’ for.”
Even if the club somehow manages to convince the Villas Boas to stay for at least the end of the season, it is a difficult situation for the club. AC Milan must be keeping an eye on the progress of the situation as they are keen on signing French World Cup winner Florian Thauvin. Surely these are not great conditions for the right-winger, and the Rossoneri could offer him an escape from the situation to a more peaceful environment at Milanello.
