Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has backed Marseille to win the Europa League final against his team’s local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Zidane is from the La Castellane neighbourhood in north Marseille, although never played for the club, but he told reporters at a charity event that they can win France’s first European club trophy since 1996.
“It’s a great performance to have reached the final,” Zidane said. “They have had a great run. A final is decided on the small details. They’re two big clubs going head to head, two institutions, but OM have the means to win.
“I don’t have any advice to give even though I know Atletico. I believe in Marseille’s chances.”
The game, at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, will be Marseille’s first European final since 2003-04, when a side featuring Didier Drogba finished runners-up to Spain’s Valencia in the UEFA Cup.
“Being honest, when we began the competition against Ostende, playing the final was not on our route-map,” Marseille’s sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, told El Mundo.
“Just playing in the competition was a prize for us. Atletico have an advantage as they have already won this competition. For us, reaching the final seemed impossible, and we must believe now we can win it.”
Marseille are awaiting word on the fitness of their captain Dimitri Payet, who could not take part in Friday’s 3-3 league draw with Guingamp.
If Payet features, he and Florian Thauvin give Marseille the hope that Marseille can match Atletico in the final.
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“We are similar to Atletico in the sense that we try to win using our own style of play, but if not, we can do it from set-pieces with specialists like Payet,” Zubizarreta said. “Marseille are a very well-organised and united side.”
