In his press conference ahead of his team’s reception of Marseille on Sunday, Metz manager Frédéric Antonetti notably expressed his surprise at how a native of the area could instead support OM instead of their local team.
Fans from Marseille will not be allowed into the ground following a local decree banning fans from making the trip. However, the stadium has nevertheless sold out, with the coach suspected many of the attendees will be local OM fans, as transcribed by journalist Eric Stella.
“A full stadium? What’s a shame is that there will be 15,000 Marseille fans. I don’t understand how you can be from Lorraine [region Metz is in] and support OM. Maybe I missed a lesson at school.”