De Zerbi Faces Criticism Following Champions League Exit

omidbasir- Before Marseille’s elimination from this season’s Champions League, head coach Roberto De Zerbi faced criticism for his unsatisfactory record in the competition. Former French international Jérôme Rothen expressed his discontent last November, asserting that De Zerbi “couldn’t find the ingredients” to make Marseille perform effectively.

Rothen stated, “OM’s results are unacceptable; it’s the reality. They are struggling and find themselves among teams that look more suited to the Europa League than the Champions League. To put it bluntly, De Zerbi’s record reflects this: 10 Champions League matches with only one victory. This clearly illustrates the situation. Tactically, he lacks the necessary tools and skills to elevate OM’s performance. He was outmaneuvered by Ivan Juric, the Atalanta coach. It was a clear misjudgment in selection.”

With their exit from Europe’s premier competition, the scrutiny of De Zerbi is expected to intensify, especially considering Marseille’s performance in the league phase, where they secured three wins and five losses from eight matches.

Following a 3-0 home loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, Marseille delivered a disappointing performance against Brugge. Benfica’s chaotic victory over Madrid ensured that Marseille advanced on goal difference. Among those left disheartened on Wednesday night, Marseille may have felt the sting most acutely. After the match, De Zerbi acknowledged it as a “very bad day” for his team.

The former Brighton head coach commented, “We began the match poorly; we anticipated a strong start from them, yet conceded two early goals. Although we attempted to attack, it was ineffective. In the second half, we recognized that Forbs’ speed surpassed that of Medina, but we failed to score in either half. We could have approached the game with greater caution while avoiding unnecessary exposures. We must apologize, as this was a very poor performance.”

Marseille’s sporting director, Medhi Benatia, expressed his frustration over the defeat, directing his anger more towards the players than De Zerbi himself. He remarked, “I hope the players recognize that tonight’s performance was unprofessional. Throughout my career, I have lost matches, but rarely have I felt such shame after conceding six goals over two games. I expect this to have repercussions for the remainder of the season.”

According to RMC Sport, De Zerbi’s position at Marseille is in “great danger.” Ongoing discussions concerning a potential departure have been reported, with the loss to Brugge significantly undermining his standing at the Ligue 1 club. The former Sassuolo manager, who took the reins in 2024 on a three-year deal, may exit Marseille soon, with his future precariously uncertain. It remains to be seen if the 46-year-old will lead the team in their upcoming league match against Paris FC this weekend.

Should De Zerbi remain at the helm, their away game against Paris FC will likely be pivotal. Marseille currently sits third in Ligue 1, trailing second-placed Lens by five points and leaders Paris Saint-Germain by seven. Just over a week ago, De Zerbi was linked to the managerial position at Manchester United. Although he claimed his focus was on Marseille and expressed contentment in his role, it is unclear how much longer he will stay with the team. Consequently, United may reconsider their interest in him come summer.