Emerson Palmieri on Roberto De Zerbi: ‘I’ve never had a coach like him.’ | OneFootball

Marseille defender Emerson Palmieri (31) has spoken at length about his first weeks at Olympique de Marseille, hailing both Roberto De Zerbi and the club’s supporters in an interview with Italian outlet Calciomercato.The Italian international joined OM from West Ham United on deadline day, and despite arriving late in the window, has quickly established himself as a starter under De Zerbi. The Euro 2021 winner admitted, however, that the move nearly collapsed as negotiations between the two clubs dragged on.“Two weeks before my arrival, I had already said yes to De Zerbi, but the agreement between the clubs was missing,” he explained. “I was a bit nervous because I feared they wouldn’t find common ground. The coach and Benatia wanted me so much that they waited until the end.”The former Chelsea and Lyon full-back revealed that he had spent nearly two months training alone before his switch to the Vélodrome. “West Ham didn’t lower their demands, but I stayed calm because I knew Marseille were interested.”Emerson also reserved glowing praise for his new coach, adding “I’ve had many coaches in my career, but never one like him. He puts incredible passion into everything he does, and above all, he values the human side. Before I even arrived, he told me that if my wife or kids needed anything, he would be there.”The mood in Provence has been upbeat for several weeks now: Les Phocéens are currently on a run of four straight wins in all competitions, facing Le Havre this weekend at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday evening. GFFN | George Boxall