Marseille has been buzzing with optimism this summer, fueled by their Champions League qualification and several promising new signings, including Angel Gomes, Facundo Medina, and CJ-Egan Riley. There’s also speculation about the potential return of a seasoned Ligue 1 goalscorer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, adding to the sense of anticipation.
Despite this enthusiasm, the current reality of Olympique de Marseille`s standing in French football remains stark. OM hasn’t secured a title in 13 years, while Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on both European football and Ligue 1 grows tighter than ever. Nevertheless, in an interview with L’Équipe, Marseille`s coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed his ambition for his side to “compete more effectively” against Luis Enrique’s PSG in his upcoming second season at the helm.
De Zerbi`s second season at Brighton, which initially promised a strong UEFA Europa League campaign, ultimately concluded with frustration and disappointment for the Italian manager. A similar scenario appears to be unfolding at Marseille, though with significantly higher stakes, especially given the looming challenge posed by PSG.
“Our aim is to compete more strongly against Paris than we did last season,” De Zerbi stated during his team`s pre-season training in Holland. He clarified, “I`m not asserting that PSG is a larger club than OM; rather, I`m acknowledging that they have been superior to us thus far.”
De Zerbi further noted, “We also possess a genuine team, though it experiences fluctuations in performance. We must overcome these inconsistencies, which are characteristic of Marseille. Perhaps they are also characteristic of me, as I admit to my own excesses.”
In the previous 23 `Classique` encounters between OM and PSG, the Parisian club has largely dominated, securing 19 victories, with only one win for Marseille and three draws. De Zerbi commented dismissively on this record, stating, “To me, that hardly qualifies as a Classico. But if you insist on calling it one, feel free.” Despite his skepticism about the rivalry`s competitiveness, the Italian manager spoke highly of Luis Enrique`s accomplishments with the Parisian team.
“When we face PSG, our desire is to win and compete,” he explained, “but the reality is clear. Paris was nearly invincible last season. What`s remarkable is that this PSG team, even without stars like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, or Neymar, functioned more cohesively as a unit than its predecessors. In that regard, Luis Enrique`s work has been exceptional.”
