De Zerbi: OM-Atalanta is a real derby for me, they've had more luck | OneFootball

A few hours before the Champions League clash between Olympique Marseille and Atalanta, Roberto De Zerbi chooses strong words full of meaning. The Italian coach, now in his second season on the French club’s bench, presents the match with a touch of personal emotion.

Marseille, De Zerbi fires up the eve of OM-Atalanta: “As someone from Brescia, for me this is a real derby. They are a great club, we’ve been less fortunate”

“Playing against an Italian side is always special,” he explains. “It already happened to me with Shakhtar and with Brighton, but facing Atalanta is different. As someone from Brescia, it feels like a derby. I was born a hundred meters from the stadium and, when there was a match against them, the whole city talked about nothing else for a week.”

The coach adds a reflection on the structural differences between the two realities: “Atalanta has always had solid ownership and presidents, while we in Brescia have been less fortunate. But now it’s time to focus only on the pitch; this is still a Champions League match that must be played with intensity and courage.”

The eve between injuries and ambition

Marseille comes into the match after a narrow win against Auxerre, which consolidated their second place in the league behind Paris Saint-Germain. In the Champions League, the French are chasing Atalanta, trailing by just one point in the standings.

Despite injuries and Emerson Palmieri’s suspension, De Zerbi looks ahead with clarity: “The Champions League is entering its decisive phase. We need to pick up points; three from the first three matches is too few. We deserved more in Madrid and in Lisbon. Atalanta are strong, and I won’t fall into the trap of considering them in crisis. They’ve recovered key players like Lookman and Ederson, and against Milan they showed their quality.”

The coach will have to do without key players such as Traoré, Gouiri, Balerdi, and Weah, but he doesn’t let it get him down: “Difficulties help you grow. When everyone is back, everything will be easier. For now, we need competitive aggression and determination.”

A precedent to avenge

Two years ago, Atalanta eliminated Marseille from the Europa League, but De Zerbi was not yet on the French bench. “I remember that back then it was said that Marseille was an average team. Not everything that’s written matches reality. Atalanta is a strong team, with a prepared coach. I didn’t see that match, but I know that was Atalanta at one of their best moments. Let’s hope this time it’s different.”

“I love controversy, but I always tell the truth”

De Zerbi doesn’t shy away from confrontation with the press and responds firmly to criticism about their style of play: “I like controversy, it’s part of my character. We don’t always play as well as I’d like, but in a year we’ve won 29 matches: only Deschamps did better. Some criticisms don’t reflect reality. We try to adapt to our opponents, but that doesn’t mean giving up our identity. There are times when you also need to know how to defend.”

Velodrome, the twelfth man on the pitch

The coach highlights the importance of the atmosphere and the bond with the fans: “The Velodrome is one of the reasons I came here. It’s a hot, passionate, demanding stadium. I see it as a mirror: it gives back what you bring inside. If you arrive with personality and self-confidence, it gives you energy. If you’re afraid, it amplifies it. My players have understood this, and that’s why we feel privileged to play here in front of our fans.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.