At the Vélodrome stadium,
Olympique de Marseille has not even played a third of the Ligue 1 season, which its new coach, Roberto De Zerbi, already sees red. Or rather turns red, with anger, as it appeared after very long minutes of waiting in the Vélodrome press conference room, after the shameful defeat of OM against the promoted AJ Auxerre (1-3 ), Friday evening at home.
The Italian began with an implacable observation, while taking responsibility “not only for the defeat, but more generally for the performance of my team at home”: “I did not succeed in transferring our performance from away to home. We have difficulties, I don't know if it's a lack of courage and personality, but there is a big difference between home and outside. However, I came here to play at the Vélodrome and have strong experiences in this stadium,” he initially deeply regretted.
“I’m ready to go”
His Olympique de Marseille is actually not the same away, with a record of five wins for one defeat, as at home, where OM has won only once since the start of the season. , against Nice in mid-September.
Worse, the Marseillais remain in two huge defeats at home, the 3-0 defeat against PSG more painful by the scenario than surprising. And this new masquerade Friday evening against a promoted team, for the same price of 3-0 at the break, before an anecdotal reduction in the gap in the second half. In the press box, as throughout the Vélodrome stadium, no one could believe what was happening.
“It drives me crazy not to understand why we do certain things away and at home we can’t,” De Zerbi then admitted. While banging his fist on the table, before putting his position back on the line:
« “I come from the street, I am direct, I don’t speak for the sake of speaking. I told Medhi Benatia and Pablo Longoria: if I am the problem, I am ready to leave. I leave the money and return my contract. » »
“Transmit what I think about football”
A declaration symbolizing his disbelief and his helplessness in the face of the situation, and a punch as a warning to pique and re-mobilize his locker room. “I don’t live for 2nd place, for the ranking or even for victory. I don’t give a damn, he warned. Playing at the Vélodrome is a privilege. I want to be able to convey to the people who work with me what I think about football. And I can't do it. »
If the technician “does not think that the solution is to change the players” because they have “courage and personality” and can “always improve”, his captain Leo Balerdi does not put the blame on him back: “No, he’s not the problem, it’s us. We have to take our responsibilities and give our all to play here. A performance like tonight is hot, we don't deserve to wear this jersey. »
Already an admission of weakness?
Bitter observation with words resonating with those of last season, when OM collected points at home but were unable to win away. Go figure, maybe with so many player changes between seasons, the dynamics reverse at the same time.
A questioning is necessary among the defenders at fault on each goal, Brassier and his high-kick look on the first, Balerdi and his gift on the second, Merlin who stops and Lirola mystified on the third, as among the harmless attackers . But also on the side of Roberto De Zerbi. Putting his position on the table after only the third defeat of the season can also be seen as a small admission of weakness, without removing anything from the shameful nature of this defeat. All with the rather lenient Vélodrome stadium, but until when? Marseille is catching fire quickly, no need to add fuel to the fire.
