PROFILE | Marseille’s Jonathan Clauss bounces back from World Cup non-selection setback | OneFootball

Let’s rewind the clocks back to November 2022: one of the major calls of Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad selection was indeed the non-selection of Marseille full-back Jonathan Clauss (31) after a barnstorming year with Lens and subsequently OM after his €9m move in the Summer of 2022.

He was ranking in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions (3.57 per 90 minutes) and the top 1% for goal-creating actions (0.60 per 90 minutes) – so it was understandable that the then 30-year-old was devastated to miss the plane to Qatar and a potential journey which saw Les Bleus reach a consecutive World Cup final. Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard and Axel Disasi, none of whom are right-backs by trade, were preferred.

“It left a mark, especially at the time,” said Clauss in an interview with Téléfoot after being asked what effect being left out of the World Cup squad had on him. RMC Sport even reported that Clauss wasn’t informed or called by Deschamps before the squad announcement – with a TV crew on standby to film his reaction. “Despite everything, we made it to the final, so it was a good choice by the manager at the time. I was disappointed, I’m not anymore, I bounced back and moved on to other things.” said the former RC Lens defender.

Providing stability in the eye of the Marseille storm

With Qatar put to the back of his mind, Clauss enjoyed a successful first season with Marseille – becoming an integral part of Igor Tudor’s boisterous high-intensity side. With Nuno Tavares serving the left side as wing-back, Clauss slotted perfectly as a wing-back on the right, thriving in a back three system which gave him plenty of opportunity to get forward and serve dangerous crosses to OM’s forwards. By the end of the 2022-2023 season the Frenchman provided a total of 12 assists over 42 appearances and contributed two goals from his wing-back position. Clauss ended the season joint-second in assists alongside PSG’s Neymar (11) and behind Lionel Messi (16) – a successful attacking output in his first campaign for Les Olympiens.

The summer and early 2023-2024 period saw some tumultuous change in the Phocean city: the departure of Igor Tudor (due to fatigue) and the short seven-game spell of Marcelino saw Les Olympiens crash out of the Champions League playoffs and form in Ligue 1 to stagnate. In the Spaniard’s set-up, the full-back was employed in a more traditional role in a back four – and this continued after Gennaro Gattuso took over the reins as manager of the club in early October.

Nonetheless, Clauss’s creative output has continued steadily from right-back with seven assists and two goals over 24 appearances so far this season. As with a lot of OM’s offensive-minded talent, the Europa League has proved a happy hunting ground for Clauss. With Marseille finishing second in a tough Group B including Brighton, Ajax, and AEK Athens; the former RC Lens man has managed four assists over six matches. Six years ago Clauss was released from Ligue 2 side Quevilly Rouen at the age of 25. His rise in recent years has been sharp, but 2023 has shown Clauss’s quality in consistency, and the resilience to bounce back from World Cup disappointment.

GFFN | George Boxall