From 2 p.m. live from the RLD center, follow the press conference on the eve of the opening match of the 11th day of Ligue 1 McDonald's 2024-2025 between OM and AJ Auxerre with Pol Lirola and Roberto De Zerbi .
the replay of the press conference on Twitch
Roberto De Zerbi: “Score more and suffer less”
We must succeed in shooting set pieces better. It's hard to train for this. We can improve. 23 goals in 10 games is good but not enough. We must no longer have control of the match. We conceded two chances in the first half against Nantes. We must score more and suffer less.
The hierarchy remains the same. I make my choice before the matches, making them after is simpler. Between Wahi and Maupay, the hierarchy is the same. I like Wahi's qualities. Maupay has more experience. There is an age difference. The number 9 must know how to score but also press and play. We are not intense enough in this pressing throughout the 90 minutes.
We play with two central defenders. There are several options, we have Brassier, Cornelius… I know that Kondogbia is not a central defender by nature but he can bring us things. The game starts from them. Brassier found his level, he had to acclimatize, he was the starter but I had to make choices.
When Balerdi has the ball, he is the one who commands the game, who is in control. When it is another player, this player has the same role.
When we lose the ball, we have 5 seconds to get it back. It's different from dry cleaning. Against Nantes or Montpellier, we had high pressure with a very high defensive line. Sometimes we do it well but when we do it badly we can be in trouble. This must happen through short passes. Maupay has this experience, Greenwood or Wahi have less reflexes to do this. This needs to be worked on. Courage is seen with the ball but also without the ball.
The ranking is pretty good. I would have liked to have more points. We are facing teams who are doing well in C1. If I'm happy? my answer is no. I would like us to have scored 46 goals and not 23. We need to change footballing habits. It takes time. We need a spark, it could have happened against PSG… Seeing that we are second ahead of Lille, Monaco, Nice, it's pretty good.
Tomorrow, we will have an 11th different composition. There are absences, suspensions. I try to make the best adjustments, to put the best players in the best positions. I'm not a coach who changes the team a lot but here, I was a little forced to do it.
Going green, we do it all the time. But not tonight, the players will sleep at home. We'll see for the next match. I didn't like being in green the day before a match when I was playing.
