Olympique de Marseille is preparing for their upcoming Ligue 1 match against Racing Club de Lens, with the highly anticipated second Classique against Paris Saint-Germain also approaching. While PSG holds a significant 13-point lead, Marseille’s main focus is firmly set on securing the second spot in the league and qualifying for the Champions League next season. Their long-term vision is to consistently challenge the top teams rather than looking over their shoulder.
Marseille has indeed shown progress. A victory over Lens would allow them to match their previous season’s point total (52) with still nine games remaining. However, head coach Roberto De Zerbi, speaking at a press conference, indicated that he aims for more than just matching past achievements.
“I joined to achieve more than what was done last year. As I’ve stated before, I aspire to create something special here,” De Zerbi commented. “It’s a challenging league, and our goal is to reach the Champions League. However, my personal ambition is to elevate this team to be among the top in France. I want us to be regular participants in the Champions League, not just to participate, but to be a formidable competitor.”
“My focus is comprehensive, encompassing every aspect – our playing style, training methods, focus, and concentration. I deliberately avoid social media distractions like Instagram to maintain this focus.”