OM – PSG: De Zerbi, the Vélodrome, and the victory over “the team of power”

“I came here to beat PSG”

On the evening of a fiery Classique won 1-0 by OM, Roberto De Zerbi appeared at the press conference with the smile of a man who had just experienced one of his finest nights on the Marseille bench. The Italian coach didn’t just savor the victory: he also sent a clear message.

“I came here for the Vélodrome and to beat PSG, the team that represents power,” he declared. “They’ve been winning for years without a rival, and that doesn’t match my philosophy.” Strong words, claimed openly before the press, which perfectly captured the Olympian state of mind on this Monday night.

A deserved victory in a fiery stadium

De Zerbi emphasized the unique atmosphere of the Vélodrome: “This stadium is never ordinary. We need to enjoy every second here. We had a great first half, with intensity, pressing, intelligence. Then we hit a little dip in energy, but still managed to pick up again cleanly, especially with Aubameyang and Gouiri.”

For the Italian, OM’s success was no surprise: “The victory is deserved against a team that defines an era, like Sacchi’s AC Milan or Guardiola’s Barça. That adds even more value to the performance of my players.”

Neither triumphalism nor complacency

While acknowledging he had lived “one of [his] best days since [his] arrival,” De Zerbi rejected any excessive euphoria. “We haven’t done anything yet. The most important thing is Friday in Strasbourg. I’ve already warned the players: if we beat Paris and then show up there in flip-flops, it means we’re not a great team.”

The coach wants this victory to be a springboard, not an endpoint. “The Madrid match had already shown us we have strong players. Tonight, we confirmed it. But to be a great club, you have to repeat this level of demand every match.”

“No one must silence our stadium”

With six new signings in the starting lineup (Emerson, Pavard, O’Riley, Højbjerg, Greenwood, Paixão), OM impressed with its cohesion. De Zerbi praised his players: “Some are very intelligent, and you’d think they’d been here for years. I liked our spirit: the one-on-ones, the pressing, the determination to take the initiative against this team.”

And he concluded by paying tribute to the Marseille supporters: “At home, no one must silence our stadium. The Vélodrome is our strength, and that’s what must keep carrying us forward.”

A press conference without mincing words, just like the match itself: intense, passionate, and full of promise.