Roberto De Zerbi launched a furious post-match tirade after Marseille collapsed to a stoppage-time defeat against Rennes in their Ligue 1 opener on Friday, despite playing with a one-man advantage. The Italian boss accused his players of having 'small balls' as tensions boiled over in the dressing room, with senior players caught up in in heated arguments.
De Zerbi slams players after shocking stoppage-time defeatDressing room chaos with Greenwood, Rabiot in heated clashMarseille face early crisis despite high expectations this season.Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Marseille fell 1-0 to Rennes courtesy of a late goal that stunned De Zerbi’s side, who had the upper hand numerically after a red in the. The defeat was followed by chaos in the dressing room, where several players turned on each other in frustration. English winger Jonathan Rowe was accused of a lack of effort, sparking a clash with Adrien Rabiot. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geronimo Rulli, and Leo Balerdi also contributed strong words in the dejected dressing room.
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As per RMC Sport's source [h/t Daily Mail], De Zerbi said in the dressing room: "The others beat us on the pitch, and we come in here and fight among ourselves. You know what that means? That we have small balls. In Marseille, we need to have big ones."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Marseille’s opening-day loss has already raised questions about squad unity and discipline. De Zerbi, known for his fiery personality, has made clear that he expects stronger mental resolve from his players. After finishing second last season, pressure is high to deliver, but such scenes suggest a rocky road ahead.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?
Les Phoceens must regroup quickly with a long season still ahead of them. The fallout between Rabiot and Rowe could have transfer window consequences, especially if tensions linger. De Zerbi’s men face Paris FC next weekend as they look to put aside all the heat in the dressing room.
