OM-ASSE: Press conference

press conference replay on Twitch 

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg: ‘The team is changing in a positive way’

Ismaël Bennacer is a talented, high-quality player. He hasn't been here long, but you can feel his commitment and his willingness to integrate. The new players are keen to learn, and that makes the team great. He has a big heart and great talent.

Each player has their own qualities. To be successful, you need players who raise the level of the team. Valentin and Ismaël raise the level. The coach makes his choices and during the week, the players show their best side during the week. It's important to have a lot of players who raise the level.

Saint-Etienne have had a slightly more difficult time of it, but they will fight and play their game. It's up to us to play our game and show our best side. When you wear that shirt, on the pitch, you're there to win. Tomorrow, it won't change.

It's important that several of us take responsibility. We talk about the captain, the goalkeeper, the top scorer... But a team is 15, 16 or 18 players. We have to do a good job during the week. The players who don't start are very important to the team. Everyone is important in the dressing room. Things come from the heart. I remember a speech by Geoffrey Kondogbia. He talked about simple and important things. When several players show this leadership side and lead the team to success, it makes the team better. We build a team, we have to win games, we work every day to win every game. I feel the group growing in a way that pleases me. You have to give something to the team that comes from the heart. You have to behave well during the week.

Geoffrey Kondogbia is the first player I got close to. He's serious, he smiles, he has heart. He was injured, we missed him. Derek Cornelius did some good things but Kondo is just happiness.

I'm not the dad but I hope everyone in the group feels he's important. Mason Greenwood has scored goals but Geronimo Rulli is important too. The players who don't play bring good things to the team on a daily basis. They have all my respect. They have less playing time but if you achieve something as a team, it's a group of 24 players that succeeds. Everyone has a role to play and that's what I try to convey. Everyone has their role. When you come on, you can be annoyed or you can use your energy to help the team.

The team transforms in a positive way. I like the way we train. You have to do that when you play one game a week. I give my best to the team with my experience to try to make good memories in Marseille.

On corners, you have to try to put the ball in the box and if a team mate touches the ball, it's a good corner. We have other players who take them very well.

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘We will only win if we give 100%’

Avi Assouly

First of all, I would like to extend our condolences to the family of Avi Assouly, whom I had met.

OM-ASSE

I am very focused on the match. It is an important and difficult match. We must approach it with the right mentality, like a great team, without thinking about the matches played at their home ground. To win, we will have to put in a great performance. Tomorrow, we will only win if we play well and give 100%, otherwise it will be difficult.

Playing against a low block

We have progressed, we work during the week, we correct our mistakes. We can do even better. Against Angers, faced with a low, closed block, we managed to find balance, without losing the ball, and we had chances.

Luiz Felipe Ramos

I don't know yet. The objective is to take 3 points to be nine points ahead of the third place team. Luiz Felipe is a strong defender with experience and a leader's mentality. We'll see maybe tomorrow or against Auxerre or later.

Geoffrey Kondogbia

He is one of the most important players in the squad. He can play in the centre or at the back. He is returning from injury. He got hurt at Saint-Etienne on 22 December and it is now 14 February. I thought he was in good shape this week. As for his position, it depends on the game.

Ismaël Bennacer

He's a starter. He considerably raises the team's quality. Like Rongier, Højbjerg. There are 3 players for 2 positions. To fulfil the true OM, you need strong players like them. The problem concerns me, but it's not a problem. I play those who seem to me to be in better shape.

Amar Dedić

I'm waiting for him to do what he did in Salzburg. He has great speed and can change pace well. He needs to get used to the league and the style of play. The Red Bull school has a different idea of football to mine. He has played Champions League matches, he hasn't trained much and when he is at 100%, he will be an important player.

A 100% team

It's difficult to give a percentage. I'm not 100% happy, we can still be better. We've made progress in the defensive line, in ball control. We understand when we have to play in the centre, on the sides, we attack the area with several players. We are among the top in several areas in terms of statistics, but we need to improve in several areas.

The midfield

There's Rabiot too. We'll need a bigger Greenwood. He's a talent that needs to be put in the best conditions. We would lose his qualities in the areas where he is decisive. He knows how to finish and score. I want to play with two number 6s and two players above them. That could be Nadir. As soon as he comes on, he plays well. He makes my choices difficult.

Concerning everyone

Amine Harit is an important player. I have spoken with him. He was out for almost four months, he got injured, it's not his fault. During that time, we found some important balances. It takes time for him to be able to play. It's February, we have a very important objective. Everyone has to accept my choices; no one has the automatic right to play; the pitch decides. I do this for all positions. I try to think of what's best for the team, for the collective. I don't want any problems in the team. I'd rather have more competition and more responsibility for my choices.

The talks

I need three days to answer you... Sometimes I speak, sometimes I choose which player should speak. I'm lucky to have a group full of leaders. I don't need recognition to speak. I speak and I say what I feel. Sometimes I let players speak. Tomorrow, if we win, we'll be 9 points ahead of third place. I do everything with a lot of passion and emotion. I manage to stay level-headed. I don't transcend myself, that's just how I am. I manage to maintain balance, even if that word is not popular.

The relationship with Marseille

I need to feel connected to where I work, otherwise I find it hard to express myself. Working without putting my heart into it is not for me. I need a relationship with the players, with the people who work at the training centre. I had that in Brighton. It was difficult to leave. I came here to find an environment that makes me dream, gives me goosebumps. I feel good. The city and the club are similar to me. I see players who live the game like me. What they say, I could say it. When you create a connection like that, it's no longer a job. On match day, I can't wait for it to start. We plan for years to come with Medhi Benatia. I look at what I can offer the people who come to the stadium. It may be the only job that allows you to give so much emotion to people you don't know.