Coach Marcelo Bielsa remained tight-lipped when questioned on Friday concerning his future with French Ligue 1 leaders Marseille.

"There is a saying by (Argentine coach) Jorge Valdano: 'I work as if I'm going to stay for a lifetime knowing that I could leave tomorrow'," said the former Argentina and Chile coach who took over at Marseille last May.

There has been speculation concerning Bielsa's future after Marseille star striker Andre-Pierre Gignac said that "an important element" in whether or not he stays with the southern outfit would be whether or not the Argentine coach remained at the helm.

"I thank Gignac because there is praise in his words," said Bielsa, who coached Argentina to the 2004 Olympic gold medal and led Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League final in 2012, where they lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid.

"Coaches have a very relative stability, it is difficult to ensure that the coach can stay very long in one place."

Gignac is the joint top scorer in the French league with 11 goals, a feat which Bielsa puts down to great teamwork.

"Gignac's goals are produced because he belongs to a team which plays in a certain way, which makes it possible for him to score," he said.

Bielsa's pacesetters cling to their one point lead over Laurent Blanc's unbeaten PSG side after both sides were held to a draw on the road in midweek.

Marseille host Metz on Sunday, without winger Romain Alessandrini, who suffered left ankle ligament damage which will keep him out of action until January 2015, although Ghanian international midfielder Andre Ayew has returned to training following a thigh injury.

"The only player not available at the moment is Alessandrini," said Bielsa, adding that midfielder Dimitri Payet, is still uncertain with an ankle injury.