OM : Maupay et Revelation, De Zerbi lost patience

Roberto De Zerbi has found his starting lineup at OM for several weeks but internally, the Italian coach regrets the lack of efficiency of his two attackers Elye Wahi and Neal Maupay.

Olympique de Marseille ended the year 2024 in style with victories against Lens, Saint-Etienne and Monaco but also the draw against Lille. Runners-up to PSG at the break, Roberto De Zerbi's men are gaining strength. After the first weeks of trial and error, the Italian coach found his typical eleven by notably establishing a convincing 3-4-3. Adrien Rabiot and Mason Greenwood shine in a playmaker position, as much as Luis Henrique as a right piston. One downside still leaves Roberto De Zerbi with some regrets according to L'Equipe, the lack of efficiency of his two center forwards, namely Elye Wahi and Neal Maupay.

Between them, they scored only four goals in Ligue 1 during the first part of the season, a record that is clearly insufficient for the second best attack in the championship with 32 goals scored. “The center forwards, Neal Maupay and especially Elye Wahi are expected at another level of efficiency, the first cited compensating with remarkable acuity in combinations” writes Mathieu Grégoire, correspondent for the national daily in the Marseille city. Neal Maupay has established himself for several weeks as the indisputable starter at the forefront of the Marseille attack and his pivotal play is useful to the players around him.

Maupay and Wahi not effective enough

The former Brighton striker has made several assists, but Roberto De Zerbi also expects him to score, which he failed to do against Lille despite big chances or against Saint-Etienne in the Cup of France against a very weak opponent and quickly reduced to ten. Elye Wahi will also have to gain momentum during the second half of the season if he does not want to be pushed out next summer. This center forward position which can still be improved is one of the last projects to be resolved for Roberto De Zerbi in order to definitively validate the rise in power of his OM.