After a very unusual season for Olympique de Marseille, which saw a total of four coaches (Marcelino, Jacques Abardonado, Gennaro Gattuso and Jean-Louis Gasset), the Marseille management led by Pablo Longoria and Medhi Benatia had to start looking for a new conductor, while the tacticians followed one another on the Canebière without ever having the time to install their sporting project and tactical philosophy there. Since the arrival of the Spanish president in July 2020, eight coaches have succeeded one another on the bench of the Phocéens, very often staying less than a year. But the summer of 2024 could put an end to this curse. Indeed, while everything suggested that Sérgio Conceição, leaving FC Porto, was going to be appointed head of OM, it was finally the Italian coach, Roberto De Zerbi, who was chosen against all expectations. A thunderous and unexpected arrival for a club that, despite a rich history and a golden reputation beyond the French borders, has not managed to exist on the European scene for several seasons. And the absence of the European Cup next season has not slowed down De Zerbi who comes to settle down in Bouches-du-Rhône, even though he was on the tablets of AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, ​​Chelsea or even Bayern Munich.

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If his tactical CV is no longer to be proven, Roberto De Zerbi continues to attract praise from his colleagues, especially since his time in the Premier League at Brighton. During a confrontation against Manchester City, Pep Guardiola clearly did not mince his words for the man who is widely considered his student: “When he arrived I had a feeling the impact he would have in the Premier League would be big. I didn’t expect him to do it in such a short time. No team plays like they do, it’s unique. He creates 20 or 25 chances per match, which is far better than most of his opponents. He monopolizes the ball like he hasn’t done in a long time. They fully deserve the praise and success they have. It’s one of the teams I try to learn a lot from, it’s unique. He is one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years”, declared the Spanish coach. Same story for Jürgen Klopp who was questioned about the rumor linking the 45-year-old Italian to his possible succession at Anfield: “I told De Zerbi to continue to shake up the football world. I’ll watch it from afar. I respect what he does so much. It’s a really different way to play. It’s very demanding for the players, it’s clear positioning, holding your position, keeping your positioning, passing to the right place, passing at the right time. He’s a top trainer, he’s doing very well. It’s super interesting to see. I like watching them to be honest. This makes things tricky. It’s based on possession but even more structured from the point of view of each player’s position..

Read OM: Roberto De Zerbi has arrived in Marseille

Unanimity in Italy

Arriving in a Sassuolo in search of growth four years after a historic rise in Serie A, Roberto De Zerbi has seen players pass under the jersey of the Neroverdi. Young potentials in the making as well as experienced veterans in the last dance. Former player of Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina or even Lazio, Alessandro Matri had simply been shocked by the management and management of this young Italian tactician: “He made me feel like an important player at all times, we talked a lot and he always used the correct words and concepts. But as a coach, some things were already obvious at the time because he brought something new, something innovative. He always carries his ideas and he does everything to transmit them and he succeeds. In this he is number one: as a pure football teacher, he is fantastic. We work quite hard, being on the pitch with Roberto is stimulating and fun. I remember that there were also some confrontations, obviously constructive. Working with Roberto was a wonderful education. I had never met a coach of this type: he opened my mind”. A true legend of the club, Domenico Berardi had underlined the unprecedented impact of De Zerbi on the evolution of Sassuolo, who was then scrutinizing European places in the Italian elite a few months before the departure of the Italian tactician: “I’ve grown a lot, both mentally and performance-wise and I’m happy with that. De Zerbi has given us so much, we have been working together for 3 years. He is a great person, we will miss him a lot.”.

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But before leaving Emilia-Romagna, Roberto De Zerbi had also played a leading role in the development of young Italian players, future internationals of the Nazionale, notably Giacomo Raspadori, a pure product of the Neroverdi training center: “I have been lucky enough to work with some top coaches, but if I have to name one, I have to mention De Zerbi. He gave me my debut in Serie A and always showed me unconditional trust. I could have gone on loan to Serie B at some point, but he said no. He always wanted me at the heart of his project. With De Zerbi, I became aware of my qualities, if I had not had a coach like him, my fate could have been different”. Loaned by AC Milan to Sassuolo, Manuel Locatelli, struggling to succeed, completely exploded in the Sassuolo midfield and it was thanks to De Zerbi’s method: “I feel close to De Zerbi because he changed my life. I was a kid who needed that kind of experience at Sassuolo. Get a few slaps and then join a top team again. We talk often, but I want to stay here for a long time and Roberto knows it. We will see each other again in the future. We both hope so”. But these rave comments don’t just stop at his native country.

The short but significant Ukrainian experience

After leaving a good situation in Emilia-Romagna, Roberto De Zerbi exported his tactical genius to Ukraine on the bench. Although he did not stay long, largely because of the war and the Russian invasion, he still managed to leave an indelible mark in the minds of some, notably the players he managed. Long before arriving at Chelsea for the gold price, Mykhailo Mudryk had started to shine under the direction of De Zerbi and the young native of Krasnohrad had even become the Italian coach’s flagship project from day one: “It’s very nice that he decided to call me on his first day in Ukraine. I still remember how I listened to him and delved deeper into what he said like never before, and that’s what I continue to do. I’m glad that we talked and that he listened to me. He told me right away that he was aware of my playing style and that he would do everything to unleash my potential. He also said that he trusted me completely. His words mean a lot to me because that’s almost the main thing I wanted to hear.”. Still present in Donetsk, the other Ukrainian nugget, Georgiy Sudakov, also had a lot of positive words on this subject. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

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“I think the team has progressed a lot in terms of character and internal atmosphere. As well as in every component of the game, I suppose. As for me, they gave me more time on the field and I also felt that I was improving my performance in many ways. This is all thanks to him. I am sure that Roberto De Zerbi will lead one of the football giants in the future. He is a very strong coach, I remember him as a very impulsive person. I think De Zerbi can coach any team in the world, it doesn’t matter if it’s Manchester City or Barça., Sudakov said. Brazilian defender Dodô, who has since been recruited by Fiorentina, directly had a word of tribute to his former coach when he signed in Tuscany: “One of the first things I did when Fiorentina offered me a deal was to call Roberto De Zerbi. He said it would make me happy because my football would improve…”. In addition to transforming his young talents, the Italian tactician knows how to leave an impression on the minds of the players who cross his path.

The Tactical Revolution in England

Arriving in the Premier League, Roberto De Zerbi settled in a tough championship composed of many great tacticians at that time (Tuchel, Guardiola, Arteta, Klopp, Emery, etc.). Former French full-back Bacary Sagna, who was managed by De Zerbi at Benenvento at the start of the 45-year-old Italian’s coaching career, dared to make a comparison: “The training sessions of Pep and De Zerbi are not that different: they ask the same kind of things. I am sure that De Zerbi will join a top club very soon”. In Brighton, the now new OM coach is already missed there. Captain Lewis Dunk made a statement to his coach: “Since De Zerbi arrived, I see football in a completely different way. I thought everything had meaning before, but when I learn something now, I’m like, why didn’t I already know that? In training, we study all the scenarios. If the pressure comes from one side, we know how to behave. If it comes from the other side, we know how to fix it. We know exactly where the ball should go in all circumstances. There is a method behind this madness”, he asserted. But beyond the tactical touch, Roberto De Zerbi has a strong power of attractiveness.

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As proof, Ansu Fati, in difficulty with FC Barcelona, ​​did not hesitate to take the plunge and signed with the Seagulls largely thanks to the presence of Roberto De Zerbi: “As far as I am concerned, he was decisive in my arrival, it was he who convinced me to come as a majority”. At the end of his career after long seasons at Liverpool, James Milner also hesitated for a long time about the identity of his future club after the Reds. Convinced by his friend and former teammate Adam Lallana, he ended up signing up for Brighton and received a positive slap from De Zerbi: “He’s obviously a top manager, the way he does his job, the level of detail, the personality he shows, the hunger, the desire, how much he cares about the players is great to see. He’s already a top manager, and he’s only going to get better. I want to continue learning, become a better player and expand my knowledge and experience as much as possible. The fact that I could come here and work under a manager like that was a big attraction and something I really enjoy.”. If the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi was already good news, the declarations of his former players are enough to make Marseille supporters salivate…

Published on 06/26/2024 1:32 p.m. Updated on 06/26/2024 1:33 p.m.

2024-06-26 11:32:42
#players #Roberto #Zerbi

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