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Olympique de Marseille coach Didier Deschamps accepts favorites tag for Olympiakos clash
The Ligue 1 club are in the driving seat to ensure qualification from Champions League Group F, and their coach has stated that his side will do all they can to win the game
Nov 23, 2011 7:40:00 AM
By Gareth McKnight
Panoramic
Olympique de Marseille coach Didier Deschamps says he does not mind his side being branded the favourites for Wednesday's Champions League matchup against Olympiakos.
The Ligue 1 outfit go into the game at the Stade Velodrome knowing that if they pick up three points and Borussia Dortmund fail to beat Arsenal in England, they will ensure qualification to the knockout rounds.
"We have seven points and we are at home. This is normal, we will not refuse this label and we will do everything to win," Deschamps told L'Equipe.
A Lucho Gonzalez strike in the teams' first meeting in Greece gave Marseille a 1-0 victory, but their trainer knows it will be a different test this time around.
"This is true because they had not even started their championship. Now they are unbeaten in Greece," Deschamps observed.
Despite knowing that progression to the last 16 could be achieved, the former Juventus midfielder wants his team to concentrate on the task at hand.
"You cannot start the match by watching to see if Dortmund suffer defeat at the Emirates," he warned.
"This is obviously something that can help us but it would not be a good thing to rely on it.
"I will keep myself informed but no more. So we must prepare for this game wanting to win, we'll see the results at the end."
Kick-off at the Stade Velodrome is at 20.45CET.
The Ligue 1 outfit go into the game at the Stade Velodrome knowing that if they pick up three points and Borussia Dortmund fail to beat Arsenal in England, they will ensure qualification to the knockout rounds.
"We have seven points and we are at home. This is normal, we will not refuse this label and we will do everything to win," Deschamps told L'Equipe.
A Lucho Gonzalez strike in the teams' first meeting in Greece gave Marseille a 1-0 victory, but their trainer knows it will be a different test this time around.
"This is true because they had not even started their championship. Now they are unbeaten in Greece," Deschamps observed.
Despite knowing that progression to the last 16 could be achieved, the former Juventus midfielder wants his team to concentrate on the task at hand.
"You cannot start the match by watching to see if Dortmund suffer defeat at the Emirates," he warned.
"This is obviously something that can help us but it would not be a good thing to rely on it.
"I will keep myself informed but no more. So we must prepare for this game wanting to win, we'll see the results at the end."
Kick-off at the Stade Velodrome is at 20.45CET.
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