Ligue 1: Andre-Pierre Gignac believes Marseille are deserved league leaders
Monday 22 December 2014 12:52, UK
Andre-Pierre Gignac welcomed the title of 'autumn champion' as a just reward for Marseille's impressive first half of the Ligue 1 season.
A 13th win in 19 games, 2-1 against Lille, was enough to take OM two points clear of second-placed Lyon going into the winter break, with reigning two-time champions Paris St Germain a further point in arrears.
And Gignac told the club's website: "Being autumn champion is well deserved. We have a good recipe which we must hold on to until the end of the season.
"Now we will see what we can do against Monaco, Paris and Lyon. We have lost away to all three but will welcome them to our stadium (Marseille have won nine of their 10 home games).
"We need to take at least as many points in the second half of the season as we have up to now."
Gignac is the club's leading goalscorer this season, and second in the Ligue 1 scoring charts behind Lyon's in-form Alexandre Lacazette.
But he ceded the scoring honours on Sunday to Belgian Michy Batshuayi, for whom coach Marcelo Bielsa was full of praise after the game.
Batshuayi restored OM's lead after Nolan Roux's own goal had been cancelled out by Idrissa Gueye and Bielsa said of the youngster: "He was at a higher level than his recent performances.
"He's a player who causes problems, a born goalscorer, lively and a good dribbler.
"He is starting to link up with the midfield without losing his connection with the opposing area. He worked hard and was dangerous."
Echoing Gignac's thoughts on the current standings, Bielsa added: "I really wanted this win because for five months, the players have made every effort and it is a deserved success and a reward for their work up to now."
Bielsa himself earned the praise of club president Vincent Labrune, who also indicated there would be little in the way of January transfer activity.
"Marcelo Bielsa has taken control of the team and changed our way of working," he said.
"Our ambition is to be in the top three. Our place as leaders is a nice surprise, but it is deserved.
"All the players are progressing and have more great things to experience together. The winter market will be calm at OM to allow the group to continue to develop."
