If Manchester United are indeed considering Roberto de Zerbi as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, they would do well to consider whether poaching the Marseille head coach would be a step out of the frying pan and into the fire.
De Zerbi is nothing if not candid and, true to form, the Italian was in no mood to mince his words last week as he considered the prospect of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions, France’s equivalent of the Community Shield, in Kuwait on Wednesday evening.
“The location bothers me,” said De Zerbi, who had previously expressed concerns about traveling “a long distance at a crucial point in the season.”
Robert De Zerbi: ‘I’m going to Kuwait because it’s my job’
“These kinds of matches should be played in the country in question, in front of the clubs’ supporters. But I am going to Kuwait because it is my job, and we are proud to play this match. It is not an issue related to the country or football.”
If United thought Amorim went too far when he said he wanted to work as a club manager rather than a coach, heaven knows what they would think of De Zerbi, a man even less inclined to speak in riddles.
Despite his tendency to shoot from the lip, the 46-year-old Italian knows how to handle a high-pressure situation. Last season, when failure to qualify for the Champions League would have been disastrous after a summer of heavy investment, De Zerbi led Marseille through a tumultuous run to second place. After landing in Kuwait, he gave a clear assessment of the challenge ahead.
The Zerbi calls for ‘very high intensity and commitment’
“We have to approach this match with a very high intensity and commitment, as if it is more than just a trophy,” said De Zerbi, whose deft handling of Mason Greenwood will no doubt have been noticed by United. “We want to show our qualities. We will need the courage to play when we have the ball and to regroup when we don’t.”
Currently third in Ligue 1 behind PSG and league leaders Lens, Marseille arrived in the Persian Gulf fresh from a 2-0 home defeat to Nantes on Sunday, a match they finished with nine men after Arthur Vermeeren and Bilal Nadir both saw red. Yet inspiration can be taken from September’s 1-0 win over Luis Enrique’s European champions at the Stade Vélodrome, one of only two defeats PSG have suffered in the league this season. Enrique insists his team will not be motivated by revenge.
PSG boss Luis Enrique: ‘It’s not revenge’
“If you play a Classique against Olympique Marseille and it is also a final, then that is not revenge for the competition,” said the former Barcelona coach. “We will have to manage emotions well and pay attention to details. It is not an act of revenge, but we know how important this match is for the supporters, the club and the team.”
“Marseille have quality players, but we want to dominate the match, maintain possession and apply pressure as quickly as possible to win the ball back as quickly as possible. We want to be ready to face any situation during the match.”
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