Neymar, who has endured a disappointing 2021, is not expected back until at least mid-January.
"It makes me sad to see a player on the sidelines. We know he enjoys playing football more than anything else," said Pochettino of Neymar this week.
Now, however, Pochettino needs to try to get his team -- still regularly playing well below their potential -- firing on all cylinders without the world's most expensive player.Brazil midfielder Gerson arrived in Marseille in a big-money deal in the close seasonThe 24-year-old Brazilian has been lambasted for his performances for Marseille since moving to France from Flamengo for a reported fee of 22 million euros .
Despite breaking into the Brazil team as recently as September, Marseille supporters had been wondering why coach Jorge Sampaoli was persisting at all with Gerson, usually playing him out of his apparently favoured central midfield position. Then on Wednesday he finally showed what he is capable of with a brilliant turn and finish to give Marseille a 1-0 win at Nantes, lifting them up to second. The first part of his hefty transfer fee was paid back in that moment, and the hope is that he can now build on that as Marseille push for Champions League qualification.30 - Messi is the first player to win the Ballon d'Or while based in France in 30 years, since Jean-Pierre Papin won it in 1991 while at Marseille.
37 - The number of goals conceded by Bordeaux in 16 games this season. Across Europe's big five leagues only Bundesliga bottom side Greuther Fuerth have let in more.Marseille v Brest , Lille v Troyes , Lens v Paris Saint-Germain Saint-Etienne v Rennes , Lorient v Nantes, Monaco v Metz, Montpellier v Clermont, Reims v Angers , Nice v Strasbourg , Bordeaux v Lyon
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