AVB to miss out on Europe

– He has only been in charge for 12 games but the pressure is building on Andre Villas-Boas (above) at Marseille after a disastrous week for the former European champions.

Marseille were dumped out of the French League Cup at the first hurdle on Wednesday, going down 2-1 at Monaco as a potential route to silverware and European qualification was cut off.

That result followed a 4-0 humbling away to Paris Saint-Germain, a loss which left OM winless in 16 Ligue 1 meetings with their greatest rivals.

Villas-Boas has overseen only four league wins this season and Marseille have managed only one victory in their last seven outings.

They lie seventh before a pair of huge home games. The visit of last season’s runners-up Lille to the Velodrome today is followed by a date with Lyon.

“We can accept losing against Paris, given the difference between the squads, but not that,” said Villas-Boas after the Monaco reverse.

“We have been knocked out of a cup I wanted to win, the players too. It is shameful.”

The 42-year-old has struggled to live up to his reputation since winning a domestic double and the Europa League in his one season at Porto in 2010/11.

Spells in England with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur never quite worked out, and while he won a Russian league and Cup with Zenit St Petersburg, Villas-Boas arrived in Marseille last May with something to prove on his return to Europe following a stint in China.

It was always going to be a gamble for him at the Velodrome, with the team having failed to qualify for Europe this season.

Despite the underwhelming start, a top-three finish and a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2013/14 remains the objective.

All is certainly not lost. Marseille are currently only two points behind third-placed Lille and above other leading contenders like Monaco and Lyon.

“We are still on course for our main objective, just like Lyon and Monaco, but I said I wanted to win something here in Marseille and we have missed one opportunity,” Villas-Boas added. –

Paris

We have been knocked out of a cup I wanted to win. It is shameful.

Andre Villas-Boas Marseille coach