De Zerbi Under Pressure: MarseilleS Fortunes Hang on Two Crucial games
Olympique de Marseille’s recent form – a loss to Toulouse and a weekend defeat against Lille – has put head coach Roberto De Zerbi in a precarious position, particularly with two pivotal matches looming. The team has secured only one point from their last two Ligue 1 games,and their champions League campaign has been marred by frustrating losses to Sporting Portugal and Atalanta bergamo. Despite these results, De Zerbi currently retains the public backing of Pablo Longoria and Medhi benatia.
The upcoming contests against Union Saint-Gilloise in the European Cup and Monaco in Ligue 1 at the end of 2025 are now being viewed as potentially season-defining. Journalist Thomas Bonnavent, speaking on Winamax FC, believes two defeats in these games could severely jeopardize Marseille’s position in both competitions and place significant pressure on the Italian coach before the winter break.
Bonnavent highlighted tactical concerns, specifically regarding midfield stability. “There were spaces between the players… When Kondogbia and Vermeeren had the ball and looked up, there was nothing in front of them.It’s not possible to play ball. The midfielder, De Zerbi changes it all the time. You know my opinion on Hojbjerg, I prefer when he is a starter.” he stated on YouTube.
Despite the recent struggles, Bonnavent remains cautiously optimistic. “Like last year, I think overall that individuals will save De Zerbi from his end-of-season ambitions. I think the squad will make the difference (in Ligue 1). It will only depend on OM weather they finish on the podium or not. On the other hand, if you lose the last two matches of 2025 against Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco, you could do very badly in the Champions League and Ligue 1.” He emphasized that Marseille’s ability to secure a podium finish in Ligue 1 rests largely on their own performance, but warned that losses to Union Saint-Gilloise and monaco could led to a disastrous outcome in both competitions.
Bonnavent also noted the team’s recent performance in Lille was particularly concerning, describing Mason Greenwood and his teammates as “totally passive and apathetic,” stressing the need for a significant enhancement in their next outings.
