After the win over Lens, the Marseille coach delivers a fiery press conference and questions the weight of nationality in criticism
Another match, another controversy. Roberto De Zerbi continues to leave his unmistakable mark on Marseille — not only through results on the pitch, but also with his words off it.
Fresh from a convincing 3–1 victory over Lens, a result that lifted Marseille in the Ligue 1 standings, De Zerbi surprised many by appearing in the post-match press conference with a confrontational tone rather than a celebratory smile. Instead of focusing solely on the performance, the Italian coach turned his attention to what he perceives as unfair treatment from parts of the French media.
“If I had a French passport, it would be a bit different,” De Zerbi said bluntly. “I arrived here with a lot of respect, and I chose Marseille because it’s a special place. But some of you journalists — not all — act like you are the owners. I don’t have owners.”
De Zerbi made it clear that he feels nationality plays a role in how he is judged. “I know that for some of you my passport matters,” he continued. “But I don’t have to answer to you. You can write whatever you want.” He drew a sharp contrast between himself and other coaches, adding: “Maybe some managers text you to keep you on their side. I don’t have the phone number of any of you.”
While acknowledging that not all criticism is ill-intentioned, De Zerbi accused certain voices of acting in bad faith. “Many of you are acting honestly, many of you are acting in bad faith,” he said. “When there’s no good faith, I stay silent. But for some of you, nationality really makes a difference.”
The Marseille coach then reaffirmed his identity with pride. “I am Italian, and I’m happy to be Italian,” De Zerbi declared. “I’ve always been respectful and available with everyone. Some of you, on the other hand, think you can come to the training ground like owners. But I don’t have owners.”
He concluded with a pointed clarification about authority at the club. “The only owner is Frank McCourt,” De Zerbi said. “He’s my owner — and he’s not French either.”
De Zerbi’s comments quickly sparked debate in France, prompting Marseille to issue an official statement backing their coach and emphasizing the club’s trust in his work. On the pitch, results continue to support his position; off it, De Zerbi shows no intention of softening his stance.
At Marseille, controversy and conviction now seem to go hand in hand — just as De Zerbi likes it.
