André Villas-Boas sacked by Marseille after Ntcham signing criticism

Marseille have sacked head coach André Villas-Boas after he criticised the club for signing Olivier Ntcham against his wishes.

Villas-Boas told a press conference that he offered to resign following Ntcham’s arrival on loan from Celtic on Monday. “I submitted my resignation saying that I did not agree with the sporting policy,” he said. “I don’t want anything from OM. I don’t want money.”

Rather that allowing Villas-Boas to resign, Marseille sacked their head coach in response to the comments. A statement read: “This protective decision has become inevitable given the recent repetition of actions and attitudes which are seriously damaging to the Marseille institution and its employees who defend it daily.

“The comments made today at a press conference with regard to Pablo Longoria, director general in charge of football, are unacceptable. [The club’s] exceptional investment cannot be called into question and was on the contrary welcomed by all during this winter transfer window marked by an unprecedented crisis. Any sanctions will be taken against André Villas-Boas following a disciplinary procedure.

Villas-Boas, who said last month he would leave when his contract expired at the end of the season, was unhappy with the club’s choice of replacement for Morgan Sanson who was sold to Aston Villa last month. “We ended the transfer window with a new player [Olivier Ntcham],” he said. “He is a player that I had said ‘no’ for.”

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Marseille, who were knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League, are ninth in Ligue 1, 16 points behind leaders Lille albeit with two games in hand on seven of the teams above them.

“The results – it’s my fault. I’m very upset. But if there’s something you cannot touch, it’s my professionalism,” Villas-Boas said. “I cannot accept this. This club has already been through a couple of messy years in terms of transfers.”