Roberto De Zerbi says Marseille had to overcome a ‘mental block’ to return to winning ways at the Vélodrome | OneFootball

Despite a strong start to the season, Olympique de Marseille’s form at home has been found wanting. Heading into Sunday’s match against AS Monaco, they had only registered one win at the Vélodrome, which came against OGC Nice on 14th September.

Heading into the match against the Principality club, reports surfaced of OM’s players being “scared” to play at the Vélodrome, one of the most heated atmospheres in European football. It is intimidating for opponents; it isn’t meant to be for their own players. However, it has looked that way in recent months.

Pre-match, Marseille’s fans unfurled banners of support. “The Vélodrome is with you,” read one of those on display pre-match, with another reading “The fear of the Vélodrome is over.” Les Phocéens got the job done against Monaco (2-1) to record just their second win of the season.

Post-match, Roberto De Zerbi suggested that his players needed to overcome a “mental block” in order to return to winning ways at their home stadium. “I hope that it is the start of an important story at the Vélodrome. Lots of people come to see these matches and it has been a shame to not be able to express ourselves. There was undoubtedly a mental block, with players not necessarily calm, not always clear-headed, with fear of making errors and with anxiety,” said the Italian in a post-match press conference, attended by Get French Football News.

“We saw it against PSG, Angers, Auxerre, in the second half against Reims, and even in sequences against Nice – we weren’t ourselves. I am happy to see them express themselves finally and not be at 20-30% of their capacities,” added the Marseille manager.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Marseille