Roberto De Zerbi’s cold rage says it all. Wednesday evening at the Vélodrome, OM fell against Atalanta with a score of 1-0, at the end of a match worthy of a cruel scenario. For seventy-five minutes, Marseille had been dominated, swept away by the Bergamo intensity. But in added time, everything changed. Ederson controls the ball with his hand in his area. Penalty for the locals? The Spanish referee decides no. Unintentional hand. The Vélodrome explodes. And in the process, on the following counter-attack, Samardzic adjusts a left shot which ends up deep. From potential joy to cruel defeat in a matter of seconds. OM is crying stealing.
Aguerd and De Zerbi united in anger against refereeing
The Italian technician refuses to give in. “It’s a shame to have lost, it’s a strong team. The first twenty minutes were not good, not at our level. Afterwards, we played better, we didn’t deserve to lose at all. There is this slightly dubious episode. » De Zerbi does not want to overwhelm his team, despite a very average performance. He prefers to point the finger at arbitration and recall the context: “We had eight or nine injured, important players. We lost these three C1 matches because of certain episodes. This was the case in Madrid, against Sporting we were ten men and before the expulsion we were leading 1-0. And today you saw the match…”
Nayef Aguerd, the Marseille defender, did not hide his anger. “ At least it should be right to go watch the video, go check it out. Take the time. It’s an important match, it’s the Champions League. He doesn’t even want to go see if there is a penalty. » An immense frustration which reflects the feeling of injustice felt by the entire Marseille locker room. The Moroccan still wanted to greet his teammates: “I’m proud of the team. We will continue to work, to improve. It’s hard to find the words tonight. »
A qualification that is moving away
With four points in four games, OM are out of the top 24 and seriously compromise their chances of qualifying for the play-offs. Atalanta’s victory remains deserved throughout the match. Marseille was dominated, unable to exist in the face of Italian intensity. Geronimo Rulli saved the honor by stopping a penalty from Charles De Ketelaere in the 13th minute. Ademola Lookman found the fault in the 69th minute, before VAR canceled the goal for offside. Italian opportunities, a logical defeat. But the way it occurs leaves a bitter taste.
The OM may feel wronged. Not throughout the meeting, where Atalanta largely dominated. But on this last action, where a penalty could have changed everything. Roberto De Zerbi and his players are screaming stealing. And it’s hard to prove them wrong when we see the images again. Ederson clearly touches the ball with his hand and it comes off the body. But the referee decided otherwise. Marseille falls for the third time in the Champions League this season. And the European dream is moving dangerously further away.
