Baup proud of Marseille progress

Elie Baup believes Marseille have performed above expectations this season after completing the campaign with a 0-0 draw against Reims.

Marseille finished the Ligue 1 season in second, 12 points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain, improving from a 10th-place finish in the 2011/12 campaign.

Baup revealed after Sunday’s draw with Reims that Marseille had simply wanted to improve this season but argued the south-coast club would have to keep advancing next season to make the most of their progress.

“You know, we have to now keep on the same path,” Baup said.

“At the beginning, our project was to have a transitional season while hitting our economical targets. We did even better than that.

“It means we have had a great season, whether it is from the players we have recruited or the work we have put in on the training ground.

“We have to keep this collective, this team spirit, that much is obvious.

“This effort should not be for only one season, we have to improve our creativity, our offence.”

While Marseille finished second on the league table, they had the seventh worst attack in France’s top division, scoring just 42 goals in 38 matches.

After watching his side complete their fifth scoreless draw in all competitions this season, Baup made it clear he will push for improved efficiency in attack in the 2013/14 campaign.

“Like we saw tonight, we will have to be more effective offensively (next season),” Baup said.

“We can bring the ball better into the last third, we can build in the midfield, but our scoring ability needs to be much stronger.”