No, it's not season 2 of Werewolves.
Roberto De Zerbi, OM coach and fan of surprises (and mental tests worthy of the Foreign Legion), decided to bring out the heavy artillery to prepare for the reception of AS Monaco on Sunday, as reported The Team. No crowd bath at the Vélodrome or extended video session this time: place for a four-day commando course, far from the camera flashes.
A group text and everyone sweating
This Sunday morning, as soon as they had packed their bags after a late return from Lens, the Marseillais received a short SMS from their boss. In mode: Course Tuesday. Secret location. We get in the car. Grab your crampons and your guts. Suffice to say that some people had to check twice if it wasn't an April Fool's joke in advance. The entire team – players, staff, and even the top brass of sports management – embarks for a mysterious destination, hidden two hours from the Commanderie. Unconfirmed rumors: it could be an organic farm or an abandoned military base.
With an international break more fractured than a windshield after a stone (thanks to the absences of Balerdi, Höjbjerg, Rabiot, Rulli and Carglass), De Zerbi decided to take matters in hand with the sole objective: to transform a group sometimes lost in a war machine capable of facing a busy month of December like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Monaco, Saint-Étienne, Lille, the Coupe de France… In short, there is work.
De Zerbi knows it: his team has a problem to resolve with its stadium. Besides, in terms of home syndrome, that's five matches and only one small victory at home. It stings. But how do you wash dirty laundry when everything has been botched this summer? Between a last minute transfer window and a preparation as short as a Gerson sprint, this internship has everything of an express catch-up.
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