Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi dedicated his team’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Newcastle to a deceased child from Foggia, revealing he carried a photo of the boy wearing a Marseille shirt for luck.
De Zerbi praised the performance, noting that aside from a shaky opening ten minutes, Marseille dominated and created numerous chances without suffering defensively. He highlighted contributions from players like Bakola and Rulli. During halftime, De Zerbi remained calm, urging the squad to maintain their approach, confident that goals would follow.
He specifically lauded 36-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a "great champion." Despite numerous injuries, De Zerbi emphasized Marseille’s competitiveness, sitting second in Ligue 1 and holding six points in Europe. He believes they deserved more points but remains optimistic about winning their remaining group matches. Viewing this result as vital for morale, he immediately shifted focus to the difficult fixture against Toulouse, indicating necessary squad rotation.