OM: Himad Abdelli reflects on his angry reaction

Oct 26, 2026

Himad Abdelli sought to clarify his comments following the heated match between Olympique de Marseille and Le Havre on Sunday in Ligue 1. Despite an impressive victory with a score of 4-3, the Marseille club experienced a particularly tense finish, with an almost incredible comeback from the Havre side. This situation sparked the anger of the Algerian midfielder, before he made a more thoughtful statement on his X account.

While OM seemed to have secured the victory with a 4-0 lead, the Marseillais gradually lost their grip on the match during the last quarter of an hour. Le HAC took advantage of this to score three goals and posed a threat of equalization until the final moments. This defensive vulnerability led to strong reactions, particularly regarding the behavior of some young players who had come on during the match.

At the end of the match, Abdelli did not hide his dissatisfaction with Keyliane Abdallah and Nouhoum Kamissoko. His particularly critical comments quickly drew attention, especially since the Algerian international had himself shone on the pitch during this match. “We fight for 70, 80 minutes. The substitutes must also give their all. And I think that tonight, that was not the case. But we will work on it. And next week, maybe, it will be them who make the difference.”

However, a few hours later, the player wanted to soften his remarks. In a message posted on X, he admitted that his words may have been misinterpreted and reminded that he himself had experienced difficult substitutions during the previous season.

“So yes, maybe my words were poorly chosen, but I know how crucial it is, because last season, when I came on, I was not up to the task (so I experienced that moment). I am nobody to criticize a player!”, he wrote.

With this clarification, Abdelli acknowledged that he had crossed the line in his way of expressing himself, while emphasizing the importance of the commitment of substitutes when they take to the field. This reaction also shows his willingness not to place himself above his young teammates.

Although Marseille retained the three points, this finish to the match serves as a reminder that managing the final minutes remains an area for improvement for Bruno Genesio's men. For Abdelli, the focus was primarily on clarification after a statement that quickly resonated.

DZfoot