The Olympique de Marseille, formerly known for its strength and power outside, is going through a period of obvious crisis, proving unable to reproduce its performances far from its stadium. A series of four consecutive losses, combined with a total of twelve goals conceded in the last four outdoor games, pushed the team to the rank of the championship’s least-performing team when it moved away from the Vélodrome. This dramatic decline, contrasting strongly with the season’s initial successes, poses a major challenge for coach Roberto De Zerbi and his players.

Former Phocean player, Bixente Lizarazu, publicly expressed his analysis of the situation, highlighting a lack of match between the players available to the coach and the latter’s playing principles. It highlights a particular difficulty in the recovery from defence, a central element of De Zerbi’s philosophy, which Marseille defenders seem unable to master. This technical gap, combined with a palpable defensive fragility, as evidenced by the goals granted despite a numerical superiority against Monaco, highlights the imperative need to revise the defensive system.

In conclusion, Bixente Lizarazu’s observation highlights a deep crisis in the Olympique de Marseille, where the absence of players adapted to Roberto De Zerbi’s style of play, coupled with a clearly fragile defence, compromises the team’s ambitions. It is now essential for the next season to make a complete overhaul of the defensive system in order to remedy a worrying situation and to regain competitiveness outside the country.