Before facing AS Monaco this evening, OM's Italian coach, Roberto De Zerbi, imposed a four-day shutdown on his players. Physically, they were put to the test.
The result, this evening against AS Monaco, will provide a first element of response to the merits of the choice of Roberto De Zerbi, the OM coach. Who, as you know, decided to join Mallemort, a town in Bouches-du-Rhône, for a four-day green break. Useful, we know, for group cohesion. Useful, too, and as we told you this morning on our site, for certain players to speak with a psychologist, called in to help combat trembling legs at the Vélodrome stadium.
On the other hand, and on a physical level this time, De Zerbi really did not spare his troops. Because the program was, to say the least, muscular. Gone are the usual weekday sessions at the Commanderie, instead, for four days, jogging every morning, at dawn, and even before breakfast. As the daily L'Equipe points out, the week was physically “spicy”. Because it was then long tactical implementations that took place on the ground. With, in particular, exercises for the players so that they know how to position themselves with and without the ball.
For relaxation, go mountain biking
And if that wasn't enough, the relaxing outing offered to the Phocaeans consisted of a long mountain bike ride in the surrounding hills of Mallemort. Not really flat paths, and, one imagines, some difficulties for certain elements. To see, this evening, if De Zerbi's troops are physically fit and free of weight at the Vélodrome.
