Roberto De Zerbi has described the attitude in Italian soccer as arrogant and the Marseille manager suggested this approach led to Inter Milan’s 5-0 defeat to PSG.
What Did Roberto De Zerbi Say About Italian Soccer?
Inter suffered the biggest defeat in Champions League final on May 31, as the Italian side were beaten 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain and handed the Ligue 1 giants their first European title.
The domino effect that this result has inflicted on Inter is already in full flow, as Simone Inzaghi left the club just a matter of days after the final and is now the head coach at Al Hilal.
Christian Chivu has been brought in as the next Inter Milan manager and brought former Inter player, Walter Samuel, in to act as an assistant manager at the San Siro.
One man that took issues with Inter’s performance in Munich was Marseille manager, Roberto De Zerbi, who questioned whether the country of Italy is too arrogant when it comes to soccer.
De Zerbi said: “Italy didn’t know PSG. Italy underestimated them. Italian football was arrogant – not Inter, but the country’s attitude. They didn’t know they’d be kicking off from touch, didn’t know Dembélé was in that form, didn’t know Doué has talent on Yamal’s level, or that Vitinha might be the best midfielder in the world right now.
“They didn’t know João Neves was Portuguese-trained or where Pacho comes from Inter are a great team. Inzaghi is a top coach. There shouldn’t be five goals of difference.”
“PSG dominated Liverpool and many others. We finished second behind them. In Italy, they didn’t write a word – they snubbed our league, thinking it’s average. That’s not true.”
The Marseille manager enjoyed a successful year as he mentioned, coming second in Ligue 1 and ending the season with a run of five matches without defeat.
Has De Zerbi Ever Managed In Italy?
If anyone is able to comment on the attitude towards football in Italy then it’s Roberto De Zerbi, as the Italian has been in charge of clubs across multiple divisions in the country.
De Zerbi began his career in charge of Darto Boario in Serie D, taking charge of the Italian side in November 2013 and leaving in June 2014 – winning five out of his 22 matches.
In July 2014, De Zerbi enjoyed his breakout spell as a manager, taking the reins of Foggia in Serie C and helping the club earn promotion to Serie B.
After winning 47 of his 91 matches, the Italian decided to part ways with Foggia and move into Serie A for the first time by taking charge of Palermo in September 2016.
This move did not go according to plan as after winning just one game from 13, the Italian side decided to relieve De Zerbi of his duties – leaving the club in November of the same year.
He then decided to take a year away from the sport and made his return in October 2017, as he became the full-time manager of Benevento in Serie A once again.
De Zerbi impressed with his style of soccer, avoiding relegation with six wins from 29 matches and in June 2018, he decided to move on by becoming the head coach at Sassuolo.
This was undoubtedly his most successful spell in Italy, managing 120 games which is the most he has managed at any side in his career and turned the club into overachievers with two top eight finishes.
His time in Italy came to an end in May 2021, taking charge of Shakhtar Donetsk between May 2021 – July 2o22, then moving to Brighton where he impressed in the Premier League between September 2022 – June 2024.
The 46-year-old is now managing in Marseille, but is one of the outside favorites to become the next Brentford manager on the best betting apps following Thomas Frank’s departure.
