The crisis is not weakening. At the end of a catastrophic week, between disillusionment in the Champions League in Bruges (3-0) and insufficient performance in Ligue 1 against Paris FC (2-2), Olympique de Marseille is playing in a flammable context.
This Monday, on the eve of a crucial round of 16 in the Coupe de France on the Rennes pitch, a new episode was added to the endless Marseille soap opera. Asked to speak about Amir Murillo, with whom he allegedly had a clash on Sunday in training before demoting him to the reserve team and inviting him to find a new club, Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the sidelining of the versatile right-back.
A decision of De Zerbi
“I’ll explain it to you clearly, because things get out anyway, even the false ones. So you can imagine which ones are true…”, launched the Italian technician at a press conference. “I think everyone sees the goals taken from throw-ins, the goals a few seconds from the end or when we win 2-0 in the 82nd minute and we come back… The footballing error, I accept it, I always say it and I mean it. I do more than everyone. But there is one thing I want to see in my players, and that is that hunger. I want everyone to see it. If I make a decision of this kind, it is because I surely have my reasons on the ground,” he said before directly mentioning the name of the Panamanian international.
“Murillo is a good person, I like him a lot, he is a very strong player,” he recalled before questioning his player’s motivation. “If he understands the meaning of this thing, and it goes for everyone: he who is not hungry does not play and does not come with me. If we have to lose, we lose, but with this hunger. »
“When there is no way out…”
One thing is certain: the Olympian coach’s decision regarding Murillo seems irrevocable: “It’s my personal decision. I get paid for this,” he exclaimed. “I can make mistakes, but they are decisions that are always made in good faith. I always take my share of responsibility when there are defeats. But I take these responsibilities if there is hunger. And I think sometimes it was a little lacking. If he understands… Murillo is one of the rare players who came to eat at my house. He knows the affection I gave him. But I want people who are hungry. Otherwise, we will continue to concede goals from throw-ins,” concluded De Zerbi.
For his part, the former Anderlecht defender has not yet spoken publicly but published an enigmatic story on Instagram, featuring a horseman surrounded by an army. “When there is no way out, there remains what you are,” is written in an evocative caption.
Replaced shortly after returning from the locker room during Marseille’s debacle in Bruges, Murillo came on in the 80th minute on Saturday against Paris FC, just before the Phocaeans conceded two goals (82nd, 90th + 4).
