A small point in two matches: after a good start to the season, the euphoria has subsided in Marseille, which must react on Sunday in Montpellier to calmly prepare for the arrival of Paris SG a week later.
The incredible success brought back from Lyon (3-2) had made all of Marseille take off, enthusiastic about the successful debut of Roberto De Zerbi’s team and convinced of having found a team capable of aiming very high.
And then woes, a defeat in Strasbourg (1-0) and a sinister draw against Angers (1-1) happened and Marseille’s dreams were clearly resized.
“We went very quickly from post-Lyon to post-Angers. It only took 13 days. But it can be the same thing in positive terms,” confirmed Roberto De Zerbi on Friday.
“I have a team of brave boys, who suffered a little more than necessary from the defeat in Strasbourg. Now we must win again,” added the Italian technician.
OM will therefore go to Montpellier with the idea of bringing home three points. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and striker Elye Wahi, two former Hérault players, could contribute, but it is Adrien Rabiot’s first Marseille start which will be the attraction of this match at La Mosson.
“I have no doubt that he will make the difference in this team because he is a top player. We must put him in the best conditions, but he will be an added value for OM, as are Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or Mason Greenwood,” explained De Zerbi on Friday.
– rekindle enthusiasm –
Still deprived of Quentin Merlin but with a squad now quite rich in the middle and in attack, the Italian technician also said he was satisfied with the work done during the international break and hopes to see his team progress and bounce back through play.
“We’ve had ten good days of work. The players are angry and disappointed by the last two results and they know we have an important match to play. We need a victory and a good match, with personality and game,” he said.
“We must progress in the game, in individual performances but also in the mentality. We cannot say that the players do not fight, but we alternated matches played with a big heart and those where the approach did not “But it’s evolving in parallel with the game. We still have to build the team tactically, I’m not yet satisfied. We have to improve on everything,” explained the demanding De Zerbi.
English striker Jonathan Rowe, who could start for the first time this season on Sunday, for his part assured that the players had put these last two missed matches behind them.
“The season is long, there are a lot of matches left and it’s normal that there are swings in performance and disappointments. We just have to minimize them and I can guarantee you that we are working hard to correct that,” he said. he assured Friday.
“We also know that there is a big match coming up next (the reception of PSG in a week, editor’s note) and that it means a lot for the club and the fans. But we must concentrate on the present, match by match. match”, he added, then joined by his coach.
“We hope for victory, because it reignites enthusiasm. If we play a quality match, a victory can help us prepare for PSG’s week properly,” said De Zerbi.
