During her official presentation to the press, Egan Riley, the new recruit of the Olympique de Marseille, emphasized her anticipation of the adaptation necessary for her game under the direction of Roberto De Zerbi. Coming from Burnley, where he contributed to a record defence in England with only 16 goals conceded in 46 matches, the English defender recognizes a change in environment and game philosophy. He expressed his ambition to reproduce this defensive solidity in Marseille, while being aware of the challenges of the French championship.

Riley is aware that the French championship will require a significant adaptation on his part, particularly in terms of intensity in individual duels and confrontation with more dangerous attackers. He plans to have to be more mobile, responsive and fine-tuning his play against fast and unpredictable players. Beyond the difference in profile of the opponents, it is the Marseilles style of game, focused on the possession and control of the ball, which represents the greatest challenge of adaptation.

The player, trained in Manchester City, is aware of the importance of integrating into De Zerbi’s game system, known for its tactical requirements and its willingness to dominate the game. It will soon have to master a system based on short recovery, technical mastery and great defensive mobility. This evolution, although natural for a player in his profile, will have to be validated at the highest level of the competition.