OM-Brest: The coach's press conference

Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Doing things differently from the routine’

The training camp in Rome
We worked well, we had a week like we do here but spent more time together. At this point in the season, given how important it is and how I want us to get back to where we were in December and January, I wanted to do that. Sometimes you have to think about doing things differently from the routine. With Pablo and Medhi, we did it for the good of OM. Whether it was good or bad, we'll see.

Leonardo Balerdi
He didn't do everything with us. We'll see during the last training session. We'll also see how he feels. He's there, ready for the last few games, and we'll see about Sunday.

A physical setback in the last few games
Physically, everyone is back. You can see it in the difference in speed between Grennwood in the Lens game and the Montpellier game. It's normal to have a dip in form during a season; there are injuries and absences. These aren't excuses, but there are situations that have led to a dip. Tactically, you have to make decisions at the right time.

Ulisses Garcia in central left
Good question... It's down to the players' characteristics. Garcia is different from Cornelius. I try to use them in addition to defensive phases. The midfielders also have to stop when they go forward so as not to risk counter-attacks.

Italy
When the team is doing well and winning, I feel good and I feel good everywhere. When things aren't going well, I feel bad. I am a reflection of what's happening on the pitch.

The Marseille environment
It's OM... I knew what OM was like before, that's why I chose to come here. People at home and at the stadium understand who is pushing and giving their all for the club and who is acting in bad faith. Everyone is free to do what they want, but I do what's right, not for myself, but for my team. And for now, my team is OM. Pablo, Medhi, everyone who works around the team works for the good of the team. I leave the lies, the controversy and everything else to others.

A realisation on the part of the players
It's something they've always had. They're all good people, good guys. Things come out in conversations, but it's not out of bad faith. We all want to play in the Champions League next season. But we all have our limits, myself included, but we try to overcome them to go further.

The Brest opposition
They're a strong team with good players like Ajorque. The midfielders are strong. We want to win to hold on to second place. We respect this team, but we have an important goal.

Next week
I don't know, we'll see. I'm only interested in Brest. Only tomorrow evening matters.

The goal average
It's always about winning. We don't want to concede goals like we did against Montpellier or Le Havre. It annoys me. Sometimes we defend badly, we could have done better. If we win by scoring lots of goals, great, but if we only win 1-0... I take too.

Leonardo Balerdi
He's a defender. He's not used to playing in another position. He's an extraordinary player who needs to feel fit and have the right amount of responsibility, not too much and not too little.

Jonathan Rowe
He had a good start to the season. Then he paid the price for the changes in the team. He lost his way on the pitch. He deserved more playing time and is causing me problems. He can come on during the game or start, but he needs to be monitored and supported. I would have liked him to do more. Sometimes I may have been wrong not to pick him. 

Luiz Felipe Ramos and Ismaël Bennacer
Luiz Felipe has been back for two weeks. He had an eye infection. I don't know if he'll be there tomorrow. Bennacer started well when Rongier was out. He lost his spark, his physical form. He's getting better. He's a soldier, a high-level player. He's passionate, I'm happy to have him with us. We'll see if he plays.

The death of the Pope
I'm not a practising Catholic. I believe more in people than in the Church. I went to see the man. People will remember him for a long time for everything he did against poverty. He went against the powers that be. It was very emotional, even though I don't go to church, but the man made an impression on me, his stance... I talked about it with the players. I was happy and proud to go and lay a wreath with Pablo, Medhi, members of the staff and players.