Genesio backs Balerdi amid Vélodrome boos after friendly loss

Olympique de Marseille’s new coach Bruno Genesio publicly defended defender Leonardo Balerdi after the Argentine was repeatedly booed by Vélodrome supporters for his two mistakes that contributed to the 1‑2 friendly defeat to Atlético de Madrid on Friday in the pre‑season.

During the match, Balerdi was involved in both goals conceded by the Olympians and faced jeers each time he touched the ball. The Argentine’s errors prompted a vocal reaction from the crowd, and he was substituted in the 80th minute as the home side tried to halt the backlash.

Genesio’s defence of Balerdi

In the post‑match press conference, Genesio said, “Until the first goal, I think he was playing well. After that it becomes difficult, when you are a player at a club, to endure so many whistles every time you touch the ball.” He added, “Mistake is part of the game. It is always regrettable for me to hear one of my players being a bit thrown to the wolves.”

Addressing the fans’ disappointment, the coach remarked, “I understand that people may be disappointed with everything that happened. But I think it may not be the best response, for the team or for him. It does not put him in the best possible conditions.”

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Genesio also highlighted the player’s commitment in training, stating, “It’s a difficult situation for me as well because I work with my players every day; I can tell you they have been flawless for six weeks since we resumed training. Léo is also among those players who are flawless in commitment and effort during training.”

Marseille’s next challenge

Looking ahead, Olympique de Marseille will shift focus to their first official fixture of the season, hosting Strasbourg at the Vélodrome on Friday at 20:45 for Ligue 1’s opening day. The club hopes to translate the hard work in training into a positive start.

Genesio concluded, “I will always be behind my players, I will always be behind him, that is my way of being. It’s a principle I’ve had since I became a coach and also in my life. You have to be there in the good moments and in the most difficult moments. We are with him, I am with him.”