Posted on October 29, 2021 at 5.30 p.m. by BC updated on October 29, 2021 at 5.31 p.m.
Recruited by OM this summer, Gerson has so far struggled to justify the € 30m paid by Pablo Longoria to secure his services. Present in conference before the meeting against Clermont on Sunday, the Brazilian returned to his first complicated months in the Marseille city.
While we thought the OM in the grip of big financial problems this summer, Pablo Longoria did not hesitate to launch his transfer window by paying 30M € bonus included to secure the services of Gerson as revealed to you on 10sport.com last June. The Brazilian midfielder was one of Jorge Sampaoli 's top priorities for his first transfer window at the head of OM , but his debut in the Phocaean city do not yet meet expectations. Gerson struggles to win in the middle and the first doubts appear about his arrival, but that does not affect the motivation of the principal concerned.
“I must free myself to show you the real Gerson”
Present at a press conference this Friday, Gerson did not evade any subject facing journalists, acknowledging his delicate beginnings at OM . “When I arrived here, I wanted to do well, but football is like that, there are ups and downs … I'm adapting, I'm doing the best I can to meet expectations . Every day I am happier, I feel a little more at home. I give my maximum anyway. Every championship is different, explains the former Flamengo player, in remarks relayed by RMC. What I can tell you is that I am focusing on what I have to do, to have the confidence of the coach. Each coach has his style of play, his style, what I have to do is adapt. “ Gerson must indeed comply with the demands of Jorge Sampaoli , who does not always use his summer reinforcement at his favorite position in midfield, but the Brazilian does not hide behind that: “When you start football, you start at a certain position, but over the course of your career you have to adapt. I try to help my team. You know what position I usually play, what is called a 'volante' in Brazil, a kind of midfielder. But I open my mind to do what I'm asked to do. (…) It's not always easy or possible to do my best, I feel that my mind is having a bit of trouble now, but I try to concentrate on the game, the football, the only thing that I know how to do. But yes, I must free myself to show you the real Gerson. I hope it will happen soon enough. ”
“My transfer was high, expectations are high”
Recruited for € 30m this summer, Gerson knows he is eagerly awaited because of the price paid by the OM . “Critics in football are normal. My transfer has been high, expectations are high, it makes sense and in that sense I need to improve. But like I said the reviews help, it lets you focus more. If you are at 70% of your ability, you must reach 100%. The opinions and expectations of supporters must be taken into account. They are passionate, they have dedicated part of their life to buy a place, a jersey, and we have to give them the best of ourselves. That's what I'm trying to do, ”says Gerson , who had a failed first stint on European soil between 2016 and 2019, at Roma then at the Fiorentina where he was loaned, enough to accept doubts about his ability to win on the Stade Vélodrome side. “During my first visit to Europe I was young, leaving my country and discovering another culture was not easy, the Brazilian international is justified. But now I'm a more mature player, with this maturity we understand football better, the people, the expectations. It allowed me to get past this blockage that I had. Over time, you learn. Time has really helped open my mind. “The 24-year-old is therefore full of ambition and now wants to follow in the footsteps of Lucas Paqueta , his friend, criticized at AC Milan and now essential for OL : “He is a friend and a great player, I am really happy with what he is going through now, I wish him good. But again, it's a matter of adaptation. I start to integrate the atmosphere better and better. It takes time. I come from a different culture, a different style of play. I spoke with him in the national team, it helped me a bit. There are criticisms concerning me, it can be negative, but also positive, because it pushes you to want to silence them. “