At the Vélodrome stadium,
A Roberto De Zerbi bellowing at his players while Pancho Abardonado, one of his assistants at Olympique de Marseille, multiplied the big arm signs as instructions in the final seconds of the match against AS Monaco , at the Vélodrome stadium on Sunday evening. Before seeing the entire Marseille staff, Medhi Benatia, the sports advisor, Fabrizio Ravanelli, the institution's advisor, or Giovanni Rossi, Roberto De Zerbi's right-hand man, and the players throwing themselves into each other's arms others, happy like kids, at the final whistle.
This victory against AS Monaco (2-1) was almost celebrated as qualification for the European Cup, or the final of the Coupe de France, as it resonated as a liberation for all of Marseille. “It was above all the joy of seeing my players finally express all their qualities,” explained Roberto De Zerbi afterwards. I felt responsible for not being able to get them in the condition to play at 100%, it really saddened me to see them only at 20 or 30% of their capacity. »
“We had a mental block”
A quick look at the South Bend and the pre-match banners, “No more fear of the Vélodrome, tonight it’s three points”, and “the Vélodrome is with you”, to understand the importance of this home match. Where the Marseillais had only won once since the start of the season and were left with two consecutive defeats, against PSG, and especially against Auxerre, after which Roberto De Zerbi turned red with anger.
“It was a shame not to be able to express myself. We had a mental block, which did not allow us to play calmly and lucidly. There was a fear of doing badly and it’s difficult to play like that,” admitted Roberto De Zerbi afterwards.
“I saw the team I coach”
But the Italian coach had tightened his troops during a four-day cohesion training course in Mallemort, in the north of Bouches-du-Rhône. And decided once again to rely on its experienced players, the young Wahi, Rowe or Merlin remaining on the bench, with the exception of number 10 and Luis Henrique. With exactly the same starting 11 as against RC Lens, it paid off again. But this time at home.
Roberto De Zerbi:
« “I hope this is the start of an important story with the Vélodrome. There were a few mistakes but I saw the players I have been training since July, they showed what they do at the courage, organization of the game, they tried things, with high pressure. I saw the team I coach. »
An individual error, as usual at the Vélodrome this season, could still have ruined everything. That of Valentin Rongier, and his offering to the Monegasque attackers, at the end of the first half (42nd). But Gerónimo Rulli, “a great goalkeeper, a great man, a great leader”, in the words of his coach, even more than held the house. And the starters in attack, first Neal Maupay with his mischievous deviation for the decisive Luis Henrique (53rd), then number 10 and his penalty at the very end of the match (89th), allowed the Vélodrome to free themselves. And to celebrate as too rarely since the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi.
“I didn’t come here to be second”
In addition to finally freeing themselves from this weight as inexplicable as it was penalizing that the Vélodrome stadium represented until Sunday evening, the Marseillais above all achieved the big blow of this 13th day of Ligue 1 by passing their Monegasque opponents in second place in the ranking. But don't ask Roberto De Zerbi what it represents, at the risk of seeing him quickly turn red again: “It's a bit of a trick question. But I will answer you like when we lost 3-1 against Auxerre. I didn't come here to be second, but to give everything and go as far as possible and put OM back in place. »
In the meantime, it is he who is carving out a small place for himself in Marseille since with 26 points after 13 days, only a certain Marcelo Bielsa did better in 2014/2015 with 28 points. The lights are now green.
