At the Commandery,
The same pout, but not the same speech. A few days after the surprise storm and the cold anger of Roberto De Zerbi following the defeat of Olympique de Marseille against Auxerre (1-3), Friday, the Italian coach and his players were back on the heights of the Commanderie. If training resumed under the sun on Wednesday, this Thursday's training was entirely open to the press.
Surprising after Roberto De Zerbi's strong words on Friday evening at a press conference during which the Italian said he was “ready to leave” and to “give back his contract” if he was the problem. But this session was already planned before the pitiful defeat against Auxerre, and canceling it would have sent a strange signal.
Roberto De Zerbi never thought about resigning
His dark expression and his serious demeanor did not leave Roberto De Zerbi when he came to greet, before the start of the session, the fifteen journalists present, and to begin a small discussion of around ten minutes. But the coach had a few messages to convey, starting with the fact that Friday's message was misinterpreted: no, he never thought about resigning. And he even seemed more combative than ever.
His speech, in essence? His strong speech on Friday was above all a way of taking responsibility, he who will never shy away from his role as captain, as leader. On the other hand, like any good head of family, he does not like to see the secrets of his locker room exposed in public and sometimes regrets the interpretation of certain of his remarks in the newspapers.
On the pitch, his team's difficulties at home do not seem to be a question of players, nor of the system, even if he admits to having never experienced such a difference in the performance of his teams between home matches and those outside since he became a coach. Before getting back to work for a lighter session during this international break, he again insisted on the chance for his players to play at the Vélodrome and the advantage that the stadium should have for the club.
Observation and discretion
Roberto De Zerbi then stood back to watch his squad work under the orders of his assistants, first for physical work, before continuing with oppositions six against six, then four against four on half court . The opportunity to observe the offensive escapades of Jonathan Rowe, with a roulette – scarf shot sequence of the most beautiful effect.
His first assistant, Andrea Maldera, is by far the one who gives the most votes with a lot of “Lilian” addressed to Brassier, at fault on the first goal against Auxerre on Friday and lacking in confidence since his arrival this summer to Marseille from Brest. And almost as many “again, again” from Marco Marcattili, the physical trainer, just to instill a high pace in the session.
Advice people in Rowe
Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi kept one eye on the opposition and another on the physical work carried out by the rest of the squad, with players well rinsed at the end of the session, and many hands on their knees. The Italian concluded his morning with his butt in the grass giving some personal advice to “Johnny” Rowe, as he is accustomed to doing with certain players in his squad. If he remained very discreet throughout the session, he has the habit of increasing his speed, and his voice, as the week progresses, the closer the next match gets. Except that the one against Lens only arrives in 10 days, an eternity for Roberto De Zerbi who would have preferred to “play again three hours” after the defeat against Auxerre.
