Roberto De Zerbi’s Blunt Response to His Team Following Defeat Against Lille

Another missed opportunity for OM. After a last-minute defeat at home to TFC, they had hoped to seize the top spot in Ligue 1. This Friday night, they faced LOSC with the aim to take the lead before PSG’s match against Rennes. However, OM disappointed once again. Falling behind early in the game, De Zerbi’s side struggled to mount a comeback, displaying concerning technical and tactical weaknesses.

On paper, OM fielded a full-strength team, including their attacking trio of Pavard, Aguerd, and Balerdi. However, all three appeared below par, as did star player Greenwood, who was notably subdued. After the match, Balerdi expressed disappointment over the team’s lack of pressing, while coach Roberto De Zerbi didn’t delve too deeply into the reasons behind the poor performance, acknowledging that his team simply played badly.

“We played poorly; the defeat is deserved, and that’s that. When you play badly, it’s often blamed on the coach, and you deserve to lose. It was the same team, except for Højbjerg, that played in Lisbon. We won 1-0 there with everyone, putting in our best performance of the season. Today was our worst match,” he stated bluntly. When asked about the team’s performance, especially regarding their defensive setup, the Italian coach was straightforward.

“We weren’t playing with five at the back; tonight, it was four. Beyond tactics, we struggled to hold the ball, make three passes in a row, and recover loose balls. Our defensive effort was lacking. Without that, it’s hard to discuss tactics. So yes, we played with four at the back, with Weah pushed higher and Greenwood above him,” De Zerbi remarked, sounding frustrated during the interview with BeIN Sports. His team continues to drop points and fail to capitalize on PSG’s rare shortcomings.