OM Mercato: before Lazio, Sampaoli releases a huge confidence – foot sur 7

Thursday evening, OM welcomes the Lazio Rome in the Europa League. And for this shock, Jorge Sampaoli could well have been in the opposing camp.

OM Mercato: Sampaoli almost joined Lazio Rome

Sometimes fate hangs by a thread. Thursday evening at 9 p.m., Olympique de Marseille faces Lazio Rome again for the 4th day of the group stage of the Europa League. But before this decisive meeting for the European future of OM, Jorge Sampaoli told a little anecdote at a press conference on Wednesday.

The current Olympique de Marseille technician has revealed that he is close to joining the opposing camp. The case dates back to the summer of 2016, when the Argentine coach was without a club following his departure from Sevilla FC. Contacts intensified between the Sampaoli clan and the leadership of Lazio Rome at that time. The case was even close to being settled. Except that the Italian leaders changed their minds at the last minute, betting on Simone Inzaghi(2016-2021).

“In 2016, I met the president of Lazio Lotito to discuss the opportunity to train the first team. In the end, it didn’t happen (…) But it would have been a good opportunity, given the quality of the players on this team ”, Jorge Sampaoli told the media.

Sampaoli determined to win against Lazio

The affair therefore collapsed between Lazio Rome and the Sampaoli clan. What to give regrets to the Argentine coach. But since, Jorge Sampaoli has turned the page. Now coach of OM, he absolutely wants to win against the “Best team in group E. It will be a very difficult match tomorrow (Thursday, editor’s note). I think he is the strongest opponent in the group. We know they can hurt us in transitions. We cannot afford to be stressed, especially since we know that Lazio is a very homogeneous team ”, he added. OM remain on a series of three draws and will have to win against Rome in order to maintain their chances of qualifying for the Round of 16 of the Europa League.