The latest French Classique not only gave breathing room to Olympique de Marseille, it also reinforced the personality of Roberto De Zerbi, a coach whose name is now resonating strongly across Europe.

A Victory With a Message

The Italian strategist, born in Brescia, has earned admiration for both his character and his bold statements: “We need to have the guts well in place. In Marseille, you need to have big guts!” he said bluntly.

The triumph against Paris Saint-Germain was a statement of intent. Even though De Zerbi insisted “it’s only three points,” the result was golden in the fight for European spots. The coach even admitted that one of his motivations in coming to the club was to face and surpass PSG: “I told president Pablo Longoria that one of the reasons I wanted to come was to beat PSG, because they are stronger. They represent power, and I don’t like power.”

Beyond the scoreline, the tactical display of Marseille added to what was seen weeks earlier at the Santiago Bernabéu, where, despite falling to Real Madrid through a Kylian Mbappé penalty brace, the French side managed to silence the stadium for stretches with fast, fearless football.

Offensive Philosophy and Tactical Courage

The hallmark of De Zerbi is clear: he bets on aggressive, bold football with a marked identity. His proposal focuses on positional play, aiming to wear opponents down through possession, patience, and building from the back. However, he also knows when to release the ball quickly and take advantage of the pace of players like Mason Greenwood, Amine Gouiri, Luis Henrique Paixão, and Timothy Weah, who become lethal weapons on the counterattack.

“Courage is going beyond limits, courage is ambition,” the coach repeats as a mantra for his philosophy. His innovative style, often compared to Pep Guardiola, is not based on star-studded squads but rather on tactical intelligence, resourcefulness, and conviction.

The Marseille project under De Zerbi goes far beyond winning matches: it aims to transform the club into a true contender capable of challenging Europe’s giants. Each victory, whether against the mighty PSG or in iconic stadiums like the Bernabéu, strengthens the idea that the Italian is building a team with its own identity, ready to face anyone.