Hojbjerg Praises De Zerbi, Benatia, and Longoria for Their Exceptional Contributions

This Thursday, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg spoke to Onze Mondial. During the interview, the Danish player discussed his strong bond with his coach at Marseille, Roberto De Zerbi. “I’ve been lucky to work with coaches like Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Antonio Conte. I put Roberto De Zerbi in that same group. Over the next 20 years, Coach De Zerbi will contribute a lot to football. It’s an honor to work with him. I can’t quite explain it. He has a connection with the locker room, a personal relationship with it, similar to Mourinho. Roberto feels the locker room; he understands the atmosphere and anticipates what will happen. (He pauses) Alright, I’ll stop before I say too many nice things (smiles). It’s truly an honor to follow such a coach.”

It’s also a pleasure for him to collaborate with president Pablo Longoria and Medhi Benatia. “Benatia? As a leader, I see him much like I see him as a player. He quickly identifies key points and analyzes situations well. Being a defender, he observes everything from the back. What he’s done here with Pablo (Longoria) and the coach (Roberto De Zerbi) is extraordinary. Yes, I’ve experienced great clubs, but I don’t have the recipe for being a great leader (laughs). I’ve met many people, including leaders. Medhi has just begun, but I believe his leadership career can be very bright. Longoria? I really appreciate him; he’s very intelligent. What surprised me is that he is very calm, composed, and has a big heart. Early last season, when I spoke with him, he was very open and warm. Just so you know, I never thought of him as cold or indifferent; I deeply appreciated his attitude towards others.” Everyone will appreciate the Danish player’s kind words.