Team-mate Geoffrey Kondogbia said of Marseille failing to convince those in charge of compiling nomination lists: “We kind of laughed about it. Quite honestly, I don't know what to say. It's a choice, and we have to respect it. We have our own opinion of our players and our coach, and that's the most important thing. There's no accounting for taste. We would have liked to have been there because it's always a pleasure.”