Deschamps picked Marseille stay over Liverpool move
Published:Marseille fans unhappy with the start of that Didier Deschamps has made to the present season have no grounds to doubt his loyalty after he revealed that he turned down an opportunity to manage Liverpool during the close season.
Liverpool eventually appointed Roy Hodgson as the successor to Rafa Benitez, but Deschamps has noted that he was targeted to have talks about taking over at Anfield.
However, this prospect was turned down as Deschamps felt it was unfair to leave Marseille in a sticky spot so close to the start of the current campaign.
Deschamps said: “The timing was not good. I was engaged with Marseille, the players and the fans, and I could not leave them two days before the restart for pre-season.
“I was extremely pleased and happy but I decided to stay and continue my adventure with Marseille.”
Marseille have made a reasonable start to their Ligue 1 campaign by collecting 11 points from their opening seven games, which leaves them five points adrift of top spot.
They are the 2/1 to win Ligue 1 for the second season in succession and their credentials will be tested in their next outing as they travel to current league leaders St Etienne.
Marseille are 6/5 to beat St Etienne, with the hosts 2/1 to claim their sixth league victory of the campaign.
One of the things that Marseille will benefit from by keeping hold of Deschamps is the fact that he has learned what makes a good manager from a number of the successful coaches he played under during his glittering career.
Despite topping Ligue 1, St Etienne are still 33/1 to win the title this season. See the complete Ligue 1 winners betting odds market.
