De Zerbi takes Marseille to Champions League and could resist other offers | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi has officially taken Olympique Marseille to Champions League qualification, a result that could affect his future amid Milan, Roma and Tottenham links, but they celebrated with a tribute to Italy.

The former Sassuolo, Benevento, Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton and Hove Albion boss was appointed by Olympique Marseille at the start of the season.

He has now overseen 19 Ligue 1 victories, five draws and nine defeats, so 62 points are enough to guarantee a place in the Champions League for 2025-26.

Paris Saint-Germain won the Ligue 1 title weeks ago, but Marseille are in second place after a 3-1 win away to Le Havre, one point in front of AS Monaco.

De Zerbi has won over the Marseille fans

BRADFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 3: Roberto De Zerbi manager of Olympique Marseille during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Olympique Marseille at University of Bradford Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Bradford, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

It has been at times a tense season for De Zerbi, who ordered his players into a training retreat near Rome for several days as a team-building exercise.

It seems that made an impact, because when Marseille celebrated at the final whistle of their 3-1 win away to Le Havre this evening, they threw De Zerbi into the air and chanted: “Roma, Roma, Roma!”

The Italian coach also seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, running to join the players celebrating with the away fans after the third goal.

If Marseille had failed to qualify, then it would’ve been more likely that De Zerbi would leave, putting clubs like Milan, Roma and Tottenham Hotspur on high alert.

De Zerbi goes wild as Marseille qualify