{"id":2447,"date":"2026-03-05T10:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T10:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2447"},"modified":"2026-03-05T10:24:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T10:24:01","slug":"marseille-boss-reacts-to-nwaneri-penalty-miss-and-reveals-why-arsenal-youngster-took-decisive-spot-kick-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2447","title":{"rendered":"Marseille boss reacts to Nwaneri penalty miss and reveals why Arsenal youngster took decisive spot-kick | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri missed the decisive spot-kick as Marseille crashed out of the Coupe de France (Picture: FS2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marseille head coach Habib Beye jumped to Ethan Nwaneri\u2019s defence after the forward\u2019s penalty miss against Toulouse, praising the youngster for having the \u2018personality\u2019 to step up in the shootout.<\/p>\n

Beye\u2019s side enjoyed a dream start to Wednesday\u2019s thrilling Coupe de France\u00a0quarter-final clash as Mason Greenwood opened the scoring from the spot inside only two minutes.<\/p>\n

Igor Paixao restored Marseille\u2019s advantage after Yann Gboho had levelled for Toulouse, only for the visitors the equalise again through Charlie Cresswell on the hour-mark.<\/p>\n

The two sides could not be separated for the remaining 30 minutes, setting the stage for a nail-biting penalty shootout at the Stade Velodrome, with a place in this year\u2019s semi-finals on the line.<\/p>\n

Aron Donnum made no mistake with Toulouse\u2019s opening spot-kick before ex-Manchester United attacker Greenwood returned the favour with a cool strike beyond Geronimo Rulli.<\/p>\n

But after Gboho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Djibril Sidibe all succeeded, there were a pair of misses from Leonardo Balerdi and Cristian Casseres as the nervousness ratcheted up inside the stadium.<\/p>\n

Nayef Aguerd and Pape Demba Diop both scored their penalties meaning it came down to Nwaneri to hold his nerve from 12 yards, but the 18-year-old skied his effort over the crossbar to send Toulouse through to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

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Toulouse prevailed to book their place in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Marseille\u2019s long wait for a trophy goes on (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A teary Nwaneri, who joined Marseille on loan from Arsenal in January, appeared inconsolable as team-mates and coaching staff joined in putting an arm around his shoulder to show their support.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s a story for another time,\u2019 Beye said when asked about Marseille\u2019s order of penalty takers as the club squandered a shot at their first piece of silverware since 2012.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m not going to have a big discussion about it because what I like is the personality of a player who decides to go for it. <\/p>\n

\u2018When we discussed it, we were very, very clear about the shooting order. And so, they went for it, and I respect that personality. <\/p>\n

\u2018Then there\u2019s the story of the game. Unfortunately for Leo [Balerdi] and Ethan [Nwaneri], they missed.\u2019<\/p>\n

Beye said it was \u2018unfortunate\u2019 that Balerdi and Nwaneri were not able to execute the \u2018technical skill\u2019 as they would have hoped in the moment.<\/p>\n

\u2018They\u2019re the ones most affected tonight, but that\u2019s how it is,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s simply unfortunate that this technical skill that, at that moment in the game and at that moment in the competition, was not mastered.\u2019<\/p>\n

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There was some confusion as to why Marseille winger Paixao was not used in the shootout after his earlier goal \u2013 but Beye confirmed the Brazilian was experiencing \u2018cramps\u2019 and fatigue.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s been talk of it being a lottery, but I truly believe it\u2019s a technical skill,\u2019 Beye continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018Players who have mastered that skill and feel confident should accept that this order is in place. <\/p>\n

\u2018As for Igor [Paixao], when I asked him, he had cramps and was therefore very tired, which is why he was taken off.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Marseille\u2019s squad must \u2018accept the disappointment\u2019, says Beye (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Marseille manager went on: \u2018It\u2019s simply about taking responsibility. <\/p>\n

\u2018I believe I never judge a player who misses a penalty because you have to take the responsibility to step up. <\/p>\n

\u2018They took theirs and unfortunately we missed out in that regard.\u2019<\/p>\n

Marseille\u2019s last trophy win came 16 years ago when Loic Remy\u2019s goalscoring exploits inspired the club to win the now defunct Coupe de la Ligue.<\/p>\n

On Marseille\u2019s dream of a first title since 2012 vanishing, Beye said: \u2018The disappointment is as great as the hopes that were placed in us for this match and the Coupe de France campaign. <\/p>\n

\u2018When you have the opportunity in two matches to reach a final\u2026 you had to win this one first. <\/p>\n

\u2018So, the disappointment is as great as the hopes that were placed in us, and we have to accept it. That\u2019s what I told my players. <\/p>\n

\u2018In this situation, we have to look ahead, face the challenge, and accept the anger, the disappointment, and the sadness of our supporters who were with us throughout the match and during the penalty shootout.\u2019<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s other quarter-final was also decided on penalties, with Nice getting the better of Lorient in a tense shootout.<\/p>\n

A day earlier, Strasbourg secured their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over last year\u2019s runners-up Reims.<\/p>\n

Lyon and Lens will battle it out for the last remaining semi-final spot at Groupama Stadium this evening.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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