• Marseille manager Andre Villas Boas during the Ligue 1 defeat to Lens at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille on Wednesday, January 20. AFP
    Marseille manager Andre Villas Boas during the Ligue 1 defeat to Lens at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille on Wednesday, January 20. AFP
  • A banner set-up by Marseille supporters reading "you make us ashamed" prior to match against Lens. AFP
    A banner set-up by Marseille supporters reading "you make us ashamed" prior to match against Lens. AFP
  • Marseille's Florian Thauvin. AFP
    Marseille's Florian Thauvin. AFP
  • Lens' players celebrate after Simon Banza scored their second-half winner at Marseille. AFP
    Lens' players celebrate after Simon Banza scored their second-half winner at Marseille. AFP
  • Marseille's Valere Germain. AP
    Marseille's Valere Germain. AP
  • Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is fouled by Lens' Cheick Doucoure. AFP
    Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is fouled by Lens' Cheick Doucoure. AFP
  • Lens midfielder Gael Kakuta under pressure from Pape Gueye of Marseille. AFP
    Lens midfielder Gael Kakuta under pressure from Pape Gueye of Marseille. AFP
  • Marseille's Morgan Sanson attempts to keep the ball in play. AP
    Marseille's Morgan Sanson attempts to keep the ball in play. AP
  • Marseille manager Andre Villas Boas. AFP
    Marseille manager Andre Villas Boas. AFP
  • Marseille's Florian Thauvin under pressure from Seko Fofana of Lens. AFP
    Marseille's Florian Thauvin under pressure from Seko Fofana of Lens. AFP
  • Marseille midfielder Saif-Eddine Khaoui. AFP
    Marseille midfielder Saif-Eddine Khaoui. AFP
  • Dejected Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson, centre, at the end of the game.
    Dejected Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson, centre, at the end of the game.

Andre Villas-Boas admits his time could be up at struggling Marseille


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Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas hinted his time at the Ligue 1 club might soon be over after a 1-0 home defeat against promoted RC Lens.

The hosts slumped to their third competitive defeat and have only won two of their last eight games.

Marseille – who followed a goalless draw with Dijon by losing to leaders Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophee des Champions and then falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Nimes – came unstuck again as Simon Banza netted a second-half winner for the visitors at the Stade Velodrome.

The closest Villas-Boas' team came to scoring was a late free-kick from Dimitri Payet which flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Wednesday's loss left them in sixth place on 32 points from 19 games, 10 points behind PSG who have played one game more.

They remain eight points behind Lyon, who occupy the third and final Champions League spot.

"If the board decides that I'm not up to par regarding the results, then it will be the time to leave," Villas-Boas said. "If there's a need for change, I'm at their disposal."

One of Marseille's several supporters' groups managed to write “Vous Etes Degueulasses” ("You Are Disgusting") in big letters on the seats in what is usually their section of the stadium.

Another banner was placed in full view, which read “Vous Nous Faites Honte” ("You Bring Shame On Us").

There were also posters displayed outside the stadium aimed at unpopular club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, calling him a “crook” and urging him to “get lost.”

While they can rely on a decent defence, OM have only scored 26 goals in Ligue 1 this season, with Payet, Dario Benedetto and Florian Thauvin unable to find consistency.

Against Lens, Marseille managed only one shot on goal in the first half. They face Monaco away on Saturday.