A finalist in the UEFA Cup when he was manager of OM in 2004, the sporting director speaks about his memories and the great OM run.
Speaking about the UEFA Cup is always something special for José Anigo. The 2003-04 season when he took control of the first team coincided with the fabulous form of Didier Drogba and his team-mates in this competition. Dniepro’, Liverpool, Inter, Newcastle all before the cruel final, lost at the hands of Valencia in Gothenburg (2-0) … A formidable run.
So, going into the UIEFA Cup game against Twente on Thursday, the sporting director obviously has those great memories in mind. "As far as I’m concerned they are just happy memories. It was a very fun and enjoyable moment of my life. It is something that I wish all coaches could experience one day. The aim is not to be under the spotlight, but to experience outstanding periods like that. I was lucky enough to experience that, whatever happens in my life I’ll always have those memories" he confides.
Since then, OM have been through other, less glorious, European campaigns, but still full of emotion. That goes on right up until now and the last 32 game against Twente on Thursday. A match that has come along at an interesting point as far as José Anigo is concerned.
"We are headed into a period with a lot of matches between the UEFA Cup and the L1. Some players may find it difficult in the League, but as it is we will be able to welcome back players who have been out injured for a while. There is Niang, Cana and even Koné. They are three important players who will allow us to deal with the multiplication of matches and to win some of them as well" he explains. Their first test will be on Thursday evening against Twente.
By Olympique de Marseille
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