When tensions rise in a football dressing room, the media often fans the flames—but Olympique de Marseille manager Habib Beye is firing back at what he calls "bad practice" from journalists. Following a 1-1 draw against OGC Nice last weekend, reports emerged suggesting a rift between Beye and his players, sparking a heated press conference at La Commanderie.

The French press, including L'Équipe and RMC Sport, claimed that Beye had clashed with several squad members. One report alleged that star forward Mason Greenwood informed the manager via his lawyer that he couldn't start against Nice due to injury—an unusual and dramatic detail. Another story described a tense exchange with midfielder Abdelli, who reportedly snapped, "You're not my dad," after feeling singled out by Beye's criticism following the draw.

But Beye wasn't having any of it. "There's always pressure and tension in the dressing room, from the first day to the last," he said at the press conference. "But that doesn't mean it's about to explode. That's not the case. What bothers me is that it's always the same old story and the same old rumours. I get the impression it's always linked to my presence. What bothers me are the lies."

Beye didn't hold back, accusing some reporters of lacking journalistic ethics. "I hear all sorts of things in the dressing room; some people here lack journalistic ethics," he added. "When I see the lies that are being spread… It's disheartening; if you don't have the facts, you shouldn't try to make them up. It's easy to check the facts. When I see what's being made up about me, I'm not surprised."

For Marseille, the drama off the pitch can't distract from the stakes on it. This weekend, they face FC Nantes in a must-win clash to keep their European hopes alive. A Champions League spot is no longer in their own hands—they'll need results to go their way from Lille, Rennes, and Lyon in the final three games of the season. With tensions high and the pressure mounting, all eyes will be on whether Beye's squad can channel their focus where it matters most: between the lines.