CJ Egan-Riley has played down concerns about his situation at Marseille, as his move from Burnley is yet to work out.
[Made in Marseillais](https://madeinmarseillais.ouest-france.fr/infos/article-om-cj-egan-riley-prend-la-parole-sur-son-debut-de-saison-mitige-500350.html) cover comments from the defender today. He plays down any concerns about his lack of minutes this season.
The 22-year-old joined Marseille on a free transfer in the summer transfer window. He elected to leave Burnley as a free agent rather than remain at Turf Moor.
He had been with the Clarets since joining them on a free transfer in 2022. Loan spells at Hibernian and PSV followed before he returned to Burnley last summer.
He went on to play a key role in their promotion campaign under Scott Parker, making 43 appearances in all competitions, with 3705 minutes in total.
They had been keen to keep him, but he elected to depart, joining Marseille and Roberto de Zerbi, who could offer Champions League football.
He’s yet to be given his chance to impress, though, with just five appearances in all competitions to date totalling 265 minutes. He’s sat on the bench for Marseille’s last four games too, after being sent off against Lorient in September.
It’s not an ideal start, to say the least, but the former Burnley man wants to play down any potential concerns.
“I knew it was going to be a difficult transition for me, at a club abroad like Marseille,” he said in a press conference on Friday.
“I’m getting stronger every day. I was disappointed in myself with that red card (against Lyon, editor’s note); you have to learn from your mistakes. I’m trying to learn and earn my place in the team.
“I’ve spoken a lot with the coach and my teammates to see where I can improve. I have a lot of self-confidence. The coach is giving it to me too. I came here to learn and improve.
I think I’ll play. I’ve had a little less playing time, but I was a substitute. It’s a long season; it’s impossible to play everything. There are a lot of competitions, so I’ll have the playing time and give my all.”