Robert Pirès warns Marseille against reliving 1999-2000

Robert Pirès has urged Marseille to react before its difficult start develops into a season-long crisis, while holding up the club’s 1999-2000 campaign as a warning. He said European qualification should remain a target and called for a response from the players.

Marseille’s latest setback was a third consecutive defeat, against Rennes at the start of the fourth Ligue 1 round. The result left Bruno Genesio’s side 12th in the table. Pirès linked the poor opening to a turbulent transfer window and said the club was again struggling to find stability.

Pirès knows the situation from his own Marseille experience. After Laurent Blanc’s departure disrupted the team in 1999-2000, the club won only nine league matches, lost 10 and drew 15. Rolland Courbis and then Bernard Casoni led the side to 15th place in Division 1, with survival secured over Nancy only by goal difference. Nancy had conceded two more goals across the season.

The former France international, who spent two seasons at Marseille after the 1998 World Cup, said he hoped the current squad would not endure a similar campaign. He also recalled the intense relationship with the supporters, whose reaction could become severe when performances declined, while stressing that playing for Marseille means accepting that pressure.