Roberto De Zerbi faced Marseille player revolt after refusing to take training | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi and Marseille was always going to be a recipe for fireworks, but it appears the relationship between the players and the coach has reached a certain boiling point. According to a report from L’Équipe, Roberto De Zerbi faced a mutiny from Marseille players after reportedly informing the squad that he was not going to take Monday’s training session. De Zerbi told players “I won’t train you today,” on Monday at the Commanderie training ground in Marseille. In response, players had felt abandoned by the Italian coach and retorted “Then we won’t train either.” Director of Football Mehdi Benatia reportedly had to step in to de-escalate the situation urging them to justify the “club’s financial investment in them”. However, some players pushed back, questioning whether such erratic leadership would be tolerated at elite clubs like Bayern Munich or Juventus, where Benatia previously played.De Zerbi has implement an emotional and authoritarian management style at Marseille, which has alternated between providing a ‘family’ atmosphere when in good form, and severe punishment after defeats. Following last Saturday’s loss to Reims, La Provence reported that Marseille’s players were ordered to spend the night at the La Commanderie training ground. Marseille’s coaching staff also informed players that their rest days had been cancelled on Sunday and Monday – when the latest altercation between the players and De Zerbi reportedly occured. Tomorrow Roberto De Zerbi and Neal Maupay will be appearing in front of the press ahead of Marseille’s must-win game at the weekend against Toulouse FC. GFFN | George Boxall