Pressure mounts on De Zerbi after Monaco hammering and training confrontation | OneFootball

Pressure is beginning to mount upon Roberto De Zerbi at Olympique de Marseille after a 3-0 hammering away against Monaco in Ligue 1 on Saturday evening, which has cost them their second-place status in the league table.

Pressure mounts on struggling De Zerbi in Marseille

De Zerbi and Marseille have now lost four of their last five matches in Ligue 1, having fallen to defeats against Lens, Paris Saint-Germain, Reims and now Monaco across March and April. They also fell to a surprise 2-0 loss against Auxerre two games before that run started.

Saturday’s 3-0 loss means that Monaco have now leapfrogged Marseille into second place in the Ligue 1 standings.

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)

The tension is evident at Marseille, as De Zerbi reportedly refused to train his players after the 3-1 loss against Reims earlier in the month, which drew an angry response from the playing staff.

The Italian tactician had been frustrated with what he had seen from his players, and so called them in for training on the Sunday immediately after the Reims loss, and then refused to take charge of the session on the Monday.

Sporting director and former Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia had to step in and cool the situation down, eventually convincing the players to train. They had been reluctant to do so given De Zerbi’s refusal to be involved.