Discover how Roberto De Zerbi is transforming Marseille’s style of play, tactics, and future. A deep dive into their renewal and quest for success in football.

Marseille’s Tactical Renewal under Roberto De Zerbi — A New Era Begins

The appointment of Roberto De Zerbi at Olympique de Marseille signals a dramatic renewal in the French giant’s tactical approach.
For years, Marseille fell into a pattern of inconsistency — swapping managers, shifting formations, and failing to maximize their rich pool of talent.
But now, under De Zerbi, the future looks bright, purposeful, and well-structured.

This transformation isn’t just about a change in the dugout; it’s a complete overhaul of the team’s playing style, academy policy, and matchday approach — a renewal designed to bring Marseille back to the elite of European Aviator Spribe.

🔹1. Why Roberto De Zerbi?

To appreciate the magnitude of this renewal, we first need to reflect on who Roberto De Zerbi is and what makes him a perfect match for Marseille.

➥ De Zerbi’s Philosophy: His style focuses on possession, creativity, and adaptability. His teams are designed to control the ball, dictate the tempo, and break down defenses through clever combinations.

➥ His success at Sassuolo and Brighton & Hove Albion demonstrated his ability to implement this style quickly — regardless of resources — transforming underperforming squads into well-coached, ambitious outfits.

➥ His track record developing young players and improving their market value is a huge asset for a club like Marseille, which is rich in academy talent and eager to maximize its resources.

🔹2. Tactical Transformation — From Chaos to Control

For years, Marseille fell into a reactive style of football, frequently losing control of games and failing to impose their will on opponents.
De Zerbi’s main mission is to reverse this — to implement a coherent game model founded on possession, creativity, and positional discipline.

➥ His preferred formation, a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, focuses on retaining the ball, progressing through short passes, and overlapping movement.
➥ Players are expected to be comfortable under pressure and to find solutions through combination and positional awareness.
➥ The result is a team that dominates possession and finds spaces through well-timed movements, making it hard for opponents to counter.

🔹3. Tactical Innovation — A Fluid Approach

One key feature of Roberto De Zerbi’s approach is its adaptability.
He is not a rigid coach who sticks to a single formation; instead, his team morphs and evolves during the match, shifting formations, swapping positions, and confusing their opposition.

➥ His tactics often produce a form of “fluid positional play”—full-backs move into midfield, wingers cut inside, and the number 10 drops deep to create a numerical advantage in key areas of the pitch.
➥ This adaptability makes it hard for opponents to track and match their movements, adding an element of creativity and surprise to Marseille’s attack.

🔹4. Players Rising Under De Zerbi

The transformation under De Zerbi is not just about tactics; it’s about developing and unlocking the potential of players.
Some key players who are poised to flourish under his guidance include:

➥ Azzedine Ounahi: The young Moroccan midfielder is a perfect fit for the possession-oriented style. His ability to carry the ball forward, combine with teammates, and find spaces makes him a key piece in De Zerbi’s puzzle.

➥ Jonathan Clauss: The energetic full-back will enjoy the freedom to attack and contribute to the final third, adding an additional dimension to Marseille’s forward movements.

➥ Amine Harit: His creativity and ball-carrying ability will be crucial in unlocking deep defenses and adding an element of surprise to attacks.

🔹5. Tactical Training Sessions — A Culture of Improvement

One key aspect of Roberto De Zerbi’s success lies in his training sessions.
He focuses on developing a deep understanding of space, movement, and combination amongst players.
Training under De Zerbi is akin to a laboratory, where players constantly solve problems, learn patterns, and create solutions together.

➥ Small-sided games, positional drills, and pattern plays are a large part of his methodology.
➥ Players are encouraged to find answers on their own — a form of “guided discovery”— which results in a more adaptable, game-savvy team.

🔹6. The Impact — A More Competitive Marseille

The transformation under Roberto De Zerbi promises a more competitive and ambitious Marseille — a team not content to sit back and react, but eager to control its own destiny.

➥ The possession-oriented style should help Marseille dictate the flow of games against strong opposition in Ligue 1 and European competition.
➥ It will allow the team to break down deep defensive blocks, retain possession under pressure, and attack from all angles — making it hard for opponents to develop a clear defensive plan against them.

➥ Furthermore, developing academy players and improving the market value of the squad will put Marseille on a more sustainable financial path in the future.

🔹7. Tactical Renewal and European Success — The Goal

Ultimately, the objective under Roberto De Zerbi is not just to produce stylish football, but to win — domestically and in European competitions.
The renewal under his guidance aims to:

➥ Challenge PSG’s domination in Ligue 1.
➥ Establish Marseille as a force to be reckoned with in European competitions — whether in the Europa League or the UEFA Conference League.
➥ Develop a team that plays a brand of football not only pleasing to the fans’ eyes but also effective against the best opposition.

🔹8. Conclusion — Support Marseille’s Transformation, Support Football

The transformation under Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille signals a new era for the French giant — a future defined by creativity, unity, and a clear playing style.
The Italian coach is not just a manager; he’s a builder — someone who constructs a team from the ground up and instills a culture of excellence.

➥ His methods have already produced remarkable results at clubs with limited resources; now, with the rich pool of talent available at Marseille, the possibilities are vast.
➥ Support Marseille’s transformation and show your love for football.
➥ The future under Roberto De Zerbi promises to be filled with hope, entertainment, and success — a future made by a team that plays for its fans and for the purity of the game.