Roberto De Zerbi expressed mixed feelings despite Marseille's 1-0 win over Monaco, which elevated them to third in Ligue 1. The match was intense, with Monaco having two goals disallowed for offside. Mason Greenwood scored the decisive goal with eight minutes left. Greenwood has now contributed to 40 Ligue 1 goals for Marseille, more than any other player since his debut last season.
Marseille's home performance at Orange Velodrome has been impressive this year. They have secured 14 league victories at home in 2025, their best since 2014 when they won 15 matches. Additionally, they have netted 56 home goals in Ligue 1 this year, ranking third in their history behind the years 1948 and 1971.
Monaco has faced difficulties recently, losing five of
their last six Ligue 1 games. This is equal to the number of defeats they had in their previous 23 matches. Since November began, only Nantes and Nice have earned fewer points than Monaco in the top-flight league.
Despite these setbacks, Monaco had opportunities during the match. Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara saw their goals ruled out for offside, while Mika Biereth was thwarted by Nayef Aguerd's crucial tackle late in the game. Monaco ended with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.1 compared to Marseille's 1.9 from an equal number of shots.
De Zerbi acknowledged his team's strong performances in both the Champions League and Ligue 1 but lamented missed chances earlier in the season that could have improved their standings. "A very nice match to watch at home. I suffered a lot," he said, noting that both teams had opportunities to win.
"We performed well," De Zerbi continued, praising Geronimo Rulli's saves and acknowledging areas needing defensive improvement. He also highlighted Mason Greenwood's ability to change games despite recent inconsistencies.
Pocognoli's Perspective on Monaco's Performance
Sebastien Pocognoli, Monaco's manager, felt his team deserved more from the match against Marseille. "We are disappointed, very disappointed," he stated, emphasizing the need for self-reflection and improvement following recent losses against Rennes and Paris FC.
Pocognoli praised his players' attitude and approach during the game but stressed the importance of using this experience to drive better performances moving forward rather than seeking excuses for their current form.
As it stands, Monaco is ninth in the table and four points away from European qualification spots. Pocognoli remains hopeful that his team can turn things around by maintaining their positive attitude and continuing to deliver strong performances like they did against Marseille.
