Marseille hit back at Marcelo Bielsa after resignation
Sunday 9 August 2015 16:20, UK
Marseille have criticised Marcelo Bielsa following his decision to resign as coach of the French club, accusing the Argentine of trying to hold them prisoner.
Bielsa stood down on Saturday, minutes after losing 1-0 to Caen in their opening game of the Ligue 1 season.
The 60-year-old blamed his decision on club officials for making last minute changes to a contract agreement.
But in a strongly-worded statement on their website, the club's management have said: “OM (Olympique Marseille) can in no way be a prisoner of the requirements of someone who places his personal interests well above those of the institution.
“Olympique de Marseille is powered by unique values and has a history rich enough to refuse to submit to the law of one man.”
Bielsa, who has been linked to the vacant manager's role with the Mexico national team in recent weeks, was out of contract at Marseille, but had reached an agreement with the club’s president Vincent Labrune to extend his stay.
However, Bielsa said he was forced to renege on the deal because club officials allegedly amended the terms.
"I have finished my work here (at Marseille),” Bielsa announced in a post-match press conference. "I am sad and frustrated. I cannot accept the situation of instability at the club."
Bielsa said he had met with club officials to finalise a deal on Wednesday, but "they wanted to change the contract," he complained.
"I took this final decision as working together requires a minimum of trust, which we do not have."
Labrune has expressed his surprise at Saturday's events and questioned Bielsa's account: "I find it hard to understand how a straightforward meeting on Wednesday about the finer points of this contract could be behind this precipitous decision despite all his demands having been met," he said.
"I am, like all the supporters, dazed by Marcelo Bielsa's shock decision, which places the club in a difficult place having started the new season with a home defeat."
The club and its owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus have promised to "take all necessary measures in the coming days to enable Marseille to enjoy a season to the height of its expectations."
Assistant coach Franck Passi has been appointed interim coach.
