Olympique de Marseille does not approach the classic against Paris Saint-Germain in the best conditions. With only two victories in the first four days of Ligue 1 and a raging defeat at Real Madrid (1-2) this week for his return to the Champions League, the Marseille club needs a reference match. In this tense context, and two days to receive the big rival at the Vélodrome, coach Roberto de Zerbi took advantage of his press conference this Friday to get strong messages. And one of them was directly addressed to one of his most talented players: Mason Greenwood.
“Become a total player”: De Zerbi's XXL requirement
Asked about his team's increases in progress, the Italian coach clearly put a pressure on his English winger. “I expect from him that he becomes a total player, like the greatest players in Europe,” launched from Zerbi. To illustrate his point, he did not hesitate to compare it (hollow) to the best:
“Yesterday I saw a bit of Newcastle-Barcelona, I saw Raphinha who pressed everyone the last 20 minutes, with an incredible determination. I also see Mbappé in Madrid, Dembélé too. »» The message is clear: the talent is not enough, from Zerbi expects from Greenwood the same volume of races and the same defensive involvement as the world stars. “” I would like him to become a full player, a team player. This is my work. »»
A collective that is still looking
This requirement towards Greenwood is part of a more global reflection on the Marseille collective. De Zerbi admitted that his team still lacked automatisms. “It takes the necessary time, that new things become a habit, become mechanisms,” he explained. He even conceded that after promising outings like against Aston Villa,
“We went back a little. »» For him, the main problem to be resolved is that of “mentality” and constancy, so that the team can “Talking a universal language” on the ground.
OM: from Zerbi awaits a “total” greenwood against PSG
No satisfaction in Madrid: “we can do much better”
This culture of requirement, from Zerbi also applies it to itself and to the analysis of the results. Far from being satisfied with the “encouraging defeat” to the Bernabéu, he posted his regrets: “You can't be happy with that. We can do much better. »» He believes that his players should have shown “A little more courage After the expulsion of Carvajal to seek victory. A winner's mentality that he intends to instill in his group, even if it takes “time”.
A message received before the shock?
By putting pressure on Mason Greenwood on the eve of the most anticipated match of the year in France, Roberto de Zerbi sends a signal to all its workforce. Faced with PSG, he will not only expect technical dazzling, but a total commitment and a collective discipline at all times. He recalled it, for him, it is ” The brain and the heart that make things change, not tactics. »» It remains to be seen whether this pressure stroke will bear fruit and its players, Greenwood in mind, will respond to finally break the curse of 14 years without a home victory in L1 against Paris.
