Four matches into the new Ligue 1 season, it is not hard to see that former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has had a rejuvenating effect on Olympique de Marseille. After an unbeaten start and a host of new exciting summer additions to the playing squad, Les Phocéens are playing with freedom and intent – a far cry from last season’s woes under three different managers.
Expressive and attractive football is a trademark of the Italian manager. However, the overall impact the former Sassuolo head coach has had on the infrastructure, playing squad and general feel around the Stade Vélodrome cannot be understated. Following several seasons of disappointment and frustration, now could be the time for OM to resurge and mount a credible title challenge at the top of Ligue 1.
The De Zerbi pull
Clubs are often the main reason a player chooses to move elsewhere – the opportunity to play in a big stadium with European football is a major appeal for players across the globe. Despite this, some managers have an allure that allows the recruitment expectations of a club to be elevated, think Mourinho, Klopp, Guardiola, and that has certainly been the case at OM since the arrival of the Italian.
Players swapping England for France has often been a rarity, especially for younger players. This summer, Marseille have bucked that trend. With Mason Greenwood, Jonathan Rowe and Ismaël Koné, all under the age of 23, and arriving from the top two domestic divisions in England, Les Olympiens have been able to attract young talent from across the channel. De Zerbi was particularly involved in the recruitment of these players and targeting stars from England due to his familiarity with the playing style and the similarities it has with his philosophy.
In addition to younger talent from across the channel, Marseille have been able to attract big-name stars. The arrival of Adrien Rabiot after being linked with Manchester United and Liverpool in the summer spells a big coup for the south coast club. The French international rejected much more lucrative offers in favour of joining OM.
A new-look playing squad with youth, quality and experience has been reconstructed since the Italian manager’s arrival and has had the desired effect so far.
In Control and Renewed Resilience
In the past, Marseille teams have often been criticised for their inconsistency and lack of control in matches where they were expected to be big favourites. So far under De Zerbi, this appears to be much improved. Besides a surprising 2-2 draw against Reims, who have started the season well, Les Olympiens have looked in control throughout the season.
Dominating possession, fashioning openings and putting games to bed are not always required from big teams, but game management is essential if a title bid is to be launched. In matches against Brest and Nice, who both qualified for European football last season, something Les Phocéens failed to do, Marseille looked assured and confident. De Zerbi’s team appears to be playing with no fear and a principled philosophy adapted based on the opponent’s approach.
This trend continued this weekend as Marseille muscled to a 2-0 victory against South Coast rivals Nice. The Provence club had fewer shots than their opponents and even went down to ten men but never looked at risk of collapsing. Les Aiglons had their moments where they made the hosts look vulnerable, but Les Olympiens responded superbly with goals. Neal Maupay’s opportunistic header from a deflected cross and Luis Henrique’s wonderfully curled effort which was preceded by brilliant and precise build-up showed signs of the marked improvements at Marseille.
Whilst talks of a title challenge may be premature, the early foundations are a promising sign of what could be an impressive and resurgent season for one of France’s biggest clubs.
This week’s Ligue 1 subplots:
- PSG continued their perfect start to the season under Luis Enrique with a 3-1 win over Brest thanks to a brace from Ousmane Dembélé. Read the full match report HERE.
- Newly promoted clubs Saint Étienne and Angers got their first points on the board with a 1-0 victory for Les Verts against Lille and a 1-1 draw for the latter against Strasbourg.
- The Champions League is back with 4 Ligue clubs in action this week: PSG vs Girona, Brest vs Strum Graz, Monaco vs Barcelona and Sporting vs Lille
GFFN | Liam Wraith
