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Nine years ago, at the end of November 2011, Olympiacos was preparing for a landing in Marseille in completely foreign conditions. The lines of the … enemy were complete and full. Steve Madanda, Nicola Enkoulou, Cesar Athpilicueta, Stefan Ebia, Alou Diarra, Benoit Ceyrou, Charles Cabore, Lucho Gonzalez, Andre Ayou, Morgan Almafitano, Loic Remy, then 26 Mauro Bianda Ayando, Bjordan Aydohe, Bjrand Anu the Marseille arsenal in that moment.
At the same time, the ‘rojiblancos’ were going to play their rest at the ‘Velodrome’, due to serious absences of first-rate players. This is the only victory Olympiacos wanted to stay alive in the knockout of the ’16’ of the Champions League. And he would have to find it in the penultimate game of the group, in France and with the midfield completely out of action. Pablo Orbait, Jean Makoun and Ariel Ibagasa were eliminated and the issue for Piraeus was not only qualitative, but also quantitative …
However, it was yet to be shown that that night of November 23, was the one that would give birth to heroes and protagonists for Olympiakos. Medals that would correspond to a career of many years with the ‘rojiblancos’, with a transfer or the euphoria of victory for one night. Ernesto Valverde had to find answers to the riddles. The first concerned the choice of the person to fill the gap in the axis of the midline. Apart from Frasnua Modesto, Olympiacos had no other central midfielder. After this match he found one for years.
‘Txingurri’ anointed Giannis Maniatis. To a player who was acquired in January 2011, to initially be the backing of Vassilis Torosidis on the far right of the defense. Maniatis played as a defensive midfielder in Marseille and that night he built the rest of his career that led him to the national team.
The match at ‘Velodrome’ was 0-0, Olympiakos were unexpectedly better than Marseille but the degree of the tie didn’t tell them anything. Things were simple. Either the bench ‘would speak’ or the opportunity for the ‘rojiblancos’ would be lost. Valverde first brought Fran Gueste onto the court instead of David Foster and then Giannis Fetfatzidis instead of the left midfielder in that match, José Cholebas. Geste and Fetfatzidis collaborated in 82 ‘for the triumph of Piraeus in’ Velodrome ‘.
Vascos, in his only memorable action in the six months of his tenure with the ‘rojiblancos’, dedicated an amazing pass with the outside of the foot. And Giannis Fetfatzidis, in the phase that is probably the hallmark of his career, with an inconceivable shot in motion, he doubled the -unbeatable until then- Mandanta for the final 0-1. It doesn’t matter what followed the last game. When Olympiakos beat Arsenal 3-1 and Marseille ‘stole’ the standings, making Dortmund 2-0 2-0 with two goals in the final minutes and the one toppling on foot … Valbouena. That night in Marseille she gave birth to heroes for the people of Piraeus and is still remembered.
Tonight Olympiacos returns to ‘Velodrome’. And in terms of faces, only Cholebas – Mandata can remember the game from nine years ago, but the rest of the pre-game elements seem too much. The favorites are Marseille by Chaleta-Tsar, Amavi, Boubacar Kamara, Sanson, Kizans, Ronzier, Paget, Toven, Benedetto, Germain. With significant absences, Olympiakos, in the faces of Valbouena, Hassan, Radzelovic, Bruma and the question of the degree of preparation of Choleba, Vinagre, El Arabi for such a demanding match. Another last chance to qualify for the ’16’, this time to catch Porto. And again with the possibility of players appearing, surprises that will make a difference.
Perhaps the most typical case is that of Mario Brusai. Like Fetfatzidis, Brousai is part of the ‘rojiblancos’ production process through the club’s infrastructure departments. Like Fetfatzidis then, so Brousai today, he is looking for the ‘magic moment’ that will give him the impetus to pursue the prospect of a career with the ‘rojiblancos’. Like Fetfatzidis, Vrousai is fighting for the position of extreme forward, with the weapon of speed, technique and skill in ‘1 vs. 1 ‘. In 2011 the absences created a clash that led to ‘Fetfa’ higher in the rotation and from there to the grass for the signing of the great escape. Today is the same reason that led Brushai to make two short but ‘full’ appearances against Manchester City and Aris. And higher in the rotation for the away game against Marseille.
From Nafpaktiakos Asteras to the infrastructure departments of Piraeus, Marios Vrousai was a genuine talent with a rebellious and anarchic game. In the Piraeus Academy he learned to play and with his mind, he put tactics in his repertoire, he began to control his talent according to the needs of the game. Playing on loan for 1.5 years at Willem (41 assists, 6 goals, 10 assists) he realized the different cultures that govern the sport, worked in a different environment, understood the competition at a high level.
He stood up very well in the half hour he played against City, he managed to make his presence felt in the less than 15 minutes that he managed to step on the grass of ‘Kleanthis Vikelidis’. Clearly, it is aiming for more. In a strange deja vu of fate you can find what you are looking for at the ‘Velodrome’ in Marseille. The data of the game attest that logically Pedro Martins, who vetoed the possibility of his new assignment, insisting on the usefulness of the player in this particular season, will be called to launch him into battle. Difficult from the beginning and probably during the match.
The 22-year-old extremist forward, who was anointed international under the leadership of John Fant Ship months ago, has completed a training cycle, has devoted himself to agriculture and is now fighting for establishment. If the data that has been formed up to his entry into the game favors him, it may be his own destiny that hides the new hero of Marseille for Olympiacos …
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