‘It will not be a very pleasant reception’ – Pablo Longoria believes hostile Marcelino return is undeserved

Olympique de Marseille president Pablo Longoria expects that it will not be a “ pleasant ” reception for Marcelino on his return to the city with his new club Villarreal. 

This will mark the first time that the ex-Marseille manager will return to the Stade Vélodrome since abruptly quitting the club in September due to accusations of severe threats, intimidation, and slander. 

It’s a highly anticipated return for the manager and the atmosphere around the ground will likely be particularly hostile to Marcelino, after his ill-received comments about sections of the supporters. 

Villarreal have taken the security of their manager seriously and he will be escorted by a private security firm as well as members of the Spanish police as they look to avoid even the slightest altercation. 

In comments made to L’Équipe following his departure, the manager “ These deplorable events show that it isn’t as big a club as it wants to be. Some radical supporters want to constantly influence events preventing it from being a big club. ”

Longoria speaking ahead of the match addressed what will await Marcelino later tonight, “ I believe that it will be a reception very much based on statements taken out of context, which I believe, have not been contexualised. ” 

The president continued, “ I think it will not be a very pleasant reception because his comments have not been contextualised and I believe that some of his statements have been taken out of context .” 

And while the marriage between manager and club ended the way it did, Longoria refuses to regret what happened, “I never try and go back in time and say I shouldn’t have done that. I sincerely believe, with my heart on my sleeve, that over time, Marcelino could have developed his