Olympique de Marseille’s ambitions of securing a strong finish in Ligue 1 took a major hit on Saturday evening, as they suffered a heavy 3-0 loss away to AS Monaco. The defeat not only ended their hold on second place but also allowed Monaco to leapfrog them in the standings.
This latest setback is part of a troubling pattern for Roberto De Zerbi’s side. Over their past five Ligue 1 matches, Marseille have lost four times, falling to Lens, Paris Saint-Germain, Reims, and Monaco. Their struggles began even earlier, with a surprise 2-0 defeat to Auxerre two matches before this poor run officially started.
The string of negative results has seen a sharp decline in the club’s form at a critical stage of the season, undermining the positive momentum they had built earlier in the campaign.
Dressing Room Discontent Amid Managerial Strain
Tensions have begun to surface behind the scenes at Marseille, with signs of a fractured relationship between the head coach and his players. After the 3-1 loss to Reims, De Zerbi reportedly took the unusual step of calling the players in for a training session on Sunday—immediately following the match—but then refused to take part in Monday’s scheduled training.
This move did not go over well with the squad, many of whom were reportedly frustrated by the lack of involvement from their manager. The mood around the training ground reportedly turned sour, adding to the sense of instability.
Sources close to the club suggest that De Zerbi’s absence was driven by disappointment in his players’ performances, though his handling of the situation appears to have backfired, leading to a growing rift.
Benatia Intervenes to Restore Order
With the situation escalating and players reluctant to train without their coach, Marseille’s sporting director Mehdi Benatia was forced to intervene. The former defender stepped in to mediate and ultimately succeeded in persuading the squad to proceed with the session despite De Zerbi’s refusal to lead it.
Benatia’s involvement was crucial in calming tensions and ensuring the team maintained its training schedule. However, the episode has only fueled speculation about the unity within the camp and raised further questions about De Zerbi’s standing with his players.
As Marseille head into the final stretch of the season, the pressure is firmly on the Italian coach to turn things around. With results slipping and internal conflicts emerging, the road ahead could prove challenging unless there is a quick course correction.
