Olympique de Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi are back to Ligue 1 action against promoted side FC Lorient on Friday following the international break. For Les Olympiens, it was a moment to catch their breath after a tempestuous August and all-change during the final hours of the transfer window. The following was originally transcribed by RMC Sport.
“In August at Marseille, we’ve had what can happen in four or five years at another club. We have a lot of new players, we have to start again. When you have 12 signings, you must restart.”
Despite the compressed timeframe, De Zerbi is confident in the tools at his disposal. “We don’t have much time, but we have strong, functional players. They are adapted to playing at OM. We must do in a few days what we would normally do in two months, but that doesn’t scare me.”
Marseille were plunged into chaos after a dressing room bust-up occurred following an opening day loss to Stade Rennais last month, seeing Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe depart the club in the final days of the transfer window after being suspended by the club. L’OM then signed several key players in the final days of the transfer window, including France international Benjamin Pavard, former West Ham pair Emerson Palmieri and Nayef Aguerd – as well as loaning Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley.
