Mehdi Benatia on Marseille manager Roberto de Zerbi: “There’s something like Guardiola in him” | OneFootball

Marseille sporting director and ex-Serie A star Mehdi Benatia has spoken about how the French club signed Roberto de Zerbi and his relationship with the Italian.

The ex-Brighton manager picked up a massive win over Paris Saint-Germain some weeks ago and Benatia has now spoken to Corriere dello Sport about how he hired the manager.

The former centre-back revealed that he video-called De Zerbi to ask him to meet him in Milan, but the Italian deemed it unnecessary as he was already keen on the role.

“I was in Dubai, and I video-called him to meet the following day in Milan for breakfast. He said it wasn’t necessary, we spoke for hours on the phone and he asked if he could extend the conversation to Longoria. At that point, he explained that he was interested, our project had interested him and we should talk to his agent. But he had already said yes.”

When asked about whether De Zerbi is demanding, Benatia said: “He’s beautiful and inspiring, he lives for football like me. He has an overwhelming passion, you should see how he prepares matches. There’s something like Guardiola in him, but believe me, he’s a unique coach. He breathes football and he breathes life. In that order.”

Speaking of his working relationship with De Zerbi, Benatia said: “Here (shows his phone). We talk until two in the morning, often on video calls because the manager wants to see people face to face. At any time.”

So far, Marseille have won three and have drawn two in Ligue 1 and find themselves at sixth in the table and three points behind Monaco. Their next game sees them take on Strasbourg in what could be a big game for the European race.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN