De Zerbi & Emerson: Marseille Press Conference Key Takeaways

In Marseille this season, the matches are coming one after the other at a frantic pace, with press conferences also in their wake. But Roberto De Zerbi still has saliva to answer journalists’ questions! A few hours before moving to Angers, the Lombard, charmed by Alexandre Dujeux’s team, poured his heart out on his next opponent.

“Before facing them in the first leg, I felt like a well-organized team, you can feel the coach’s touch with players who I also like. At that time, yes, it was the team that played the best in Ligue 1, I confirm ithe applauded. Each L1 team has its characteristics, but unlike the other teams fighting for survival, it is one of those that plays football the best. I have a lot of respect and esteem for their coach, I understand all the work that goes into it, the organization, its philosophy…“

Abdelli file: “I don’t like talking about other people’s players”

The former Brighton coach was obviously questioned about Angevin Himad Abdelli, the club’s priority target during the winter transfer window and announced on the bench at kick-off.

“He is a strong player, like others at Angers. I don’t know if he will play or not… but I don’t like to talk about other people’s players, out of respect. But if the opponent’s strong players don’t play, that’s all the betterpunctuated the Italian, without getting wet, before moving on to the other hot issues of January. (About rumors sending Hojbjerg to Juve) His agent denied the information, he is a serious person, and he did say that Hojbjerg wanted to stay here. He is one of our most important players, a leader, one of the players who is most loyal to me. As far as reinforcements are concerned, we have ideas, we are discussing with Medhi Benatia… we will see what we can do.“

Four players uncertain for the trip to Anjou

After giving a medical update, during which he announced uncertainty around Pavard, Kondogbia, Vermeeren and Gomes (calf injury against Bayeux), “Roby” praised the merits of a player back on his feet… Amine Gouiri. “Gouiri and Aubameyang have completely different characteristics. “Auba” likes to attack deep, but doesn’t necessarily like to play with the team, while Gouiri likes to protect the ball, bring the team up, exchange with his partners, he deciphered. “Auba” has pushed a lot in the last two months, we have pressed him as much as possible, now he needs to recover his energies, especially mentally, but not only by being on the bench.“

And to conclude on the rumors sending him to Manchester United: “Criticisms from radio stations, from former players, those that there have been, or that there will be, will never make me change my mind about my work, nor my desire to stay in this club… The same goes for the criticisms made to hurt the club, by people who are bothered because the OM coach is Italian. But that won’t change what I think of Marseille and OM. It’s not these criticisms that will make me flee Marseille, it will be the opposite.“

Emerson: “I haven’t done anything at OM yet…”

Ahead of Roberto De Zerbi, the ever-present Emerson Palmieri, the very pleasant surprise of this first part of the season, spoke. About the cup-championship sequence, between Bayeux and Angers four days apart.

“It was important to win (in the Coupe de France), it was our duty to play well and score. We are used to playing back to back matches now. From Wednesday we were already focused on Angers. We feel good, we are confident. I think we can have a big match tomorrowinsisted the Italian-Brazilian. The second part of the season opens, the most important. We can change the trajectory of the championship, who will fight for the title or only the Champions League. It’s important to get this second part of the season off to a good start.“

The former Lyon player was also questioned about the two faces displayed by his team, between the posters and the less prestigious meetings.

“This is a point on which we work a lot, from the point of view of concentration, of mentality. How to approach all matches in the same way, as if it were a final? Against Nantes (0-2 defeat), it’s a match which, in view of my experience, never happens. It was a strange match. We have to be humble, we have to understand that we must not lose this kind of match at home. The OM who played against PSG… that’s our true face. We don’t have to do more or less, just be ourselves. Maintain this level until the end of the season.”