Moved further forward by Bruno Genesio, Himad Abdelli says he feels “good in this role” at Marseille. The Algeria international midfielder describes a coach who gives him “a lot of freedom”, after the win at Leverkusen.
The win brought back from Leverkusen on Thursday in the Europa League (1-0, striker Amine Gouiri scoring in the 77th minute) gave Marseille their first points of this European campaign, after three defeats. But another topic occupied Himad Abdelli in the mixed zone: his positioning. The 26-year-old Algeria international midfielder has been playing as a number 10 for several weeks, on Bruno Genesio’s decision, Sport.fr reports, citing Foot en France.
Asked about this more advanced role, the former Angers man made no secret of his pleasure. “I’m playing further forward and I feel good in this role,” he said, before detailing his coach’s approach: “The coach gives me a lot of freedom. He asks me to go and find the free spaces.”
Two midfielders behind to secure
The setup drawn up by Genesio is no accident. With two midfielders behind him to secure the middle of the park, Abdelli can devote more of his movement to creation than to build-up, Sport.fr explains.
Journalist Ewan L-L sees it as a return to the qualities he showed in the past, when he played for Angers near the opposition box, the same outlet reports.
Freedom does not mean exemption
The freedom the player praises nonetheless comes with trade-offs. Genesio also expects off-the-ball runs and defensive cover from him, Sport.fr stresses. The number 10 role as the coach conceives it therefore imposes a double demand, between creation and off-the-ball work.
On the results front, Marseille have now gone two games in a row without conceding, after the 2-0 win over Toulouse.
The Algeria squad in his sights
Himad Abdelli is in Brahim Hemdani’s Algeria squad to face Togo on 14 and 17 November 2026.
Marseille’s next fixtures: Ligue 1, then the Europa League.