Didier Deschamps Content With Olympique Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain Settlement

Head coach of Olympique de Marseille, Didier Deschamps, has confirmed that he is satisfied with the decision to play the rearranged Clasico against Paris Saint-Germain on November 20.

The two sides were originally scheduled to meet last Sunday but the game was postponed because of health concerns. Immediately OM raised a series of problems regarding a rearranged fixture, with television station Canal+ also given a significant say in when the game would be played.

Eventually the Friday evening kick-off was settled upon, a result that did not displease ‘DD’, who had a long list of dates when he didn’t want to meet PSG.

“In early January was totally rejected, because I have four players involved in the African Cup of Nations,” he told the press. “And then there was Sunday, November 22, but that was out of question because it was three days before a decisive match in Milan.

“Then came the proposal for Friday 20. That date allows us to have all our players available. The African internationals are concerned about a match on [November] 14, but they will have recovered in time.”

A Boxing Day clash was also considered, but Deschamps seemed happy enough that this date was rejected.

“It was thought of,” he said. “It goes against the French mentality. This shortens the holidays.

“It is true that the English do it, but they also drive on the left,” he laughed in conclusion.

The rearranged date has meant that Marseille’s fixture with Sochaux has been shunted to December 2, which could yet be moved again if OM’s final Champions League encounter against Real Madrid is to be a decisive one.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com