Roberto De Zerbi has rejected claims of a split with Marseille, insisting there is no resignation on the table and stating a desire to remain at the Ligue 1 club for several more years, despite growing pressure after a painful Champions League exit and links with the Manchester United job.
Marseille currently sit third in Ligue 1, with 38 points from 19 matches, leaving the team eight points behind leaders Lens, who have played one game more, and seven adrift of Paris Saint-Germain as De Zerbi prepares for a testing league trip to Paris FC on Saturday.
The former Brighton boss has faced intense scrutiny during an eventful start to 2026, with reports in France suggesting De Zerbi had recently offered his resignation to Marseille’s hierarchy, though
De Zerbi has now categorically denied those stories and underlined a long‑term commitment to the club instead.
European disappointment has added to the tension around Marseille and De Zerbi, after the team crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday in dramatic circumstances, falling outside the play-off places on goal difference when Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute goal against Real Madrid.
That late twist in Madrid would not have mattered for Marseille if De Zerbi’s side had avoided a heavy defeat in Belgium, but a 3-0 loss at Club Brugge proved decisive, meaning Marseille’s fate slipped out of their own hands and intensified questions regarding the team’s consistency this season.
De Zerbi has also been linked with the Manchester United role following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, while De Zerbi has claimed this month that criticism towards the coaching staff at Marseille has sometimes been harsher than for other Ligue 1 coaches because of De Zerbi’s Italian nationality.
Speaking on Friday, in comments published by L’Equipe, De Zerbi stressed a strong personal connection with the club and city, while also acknowledging how recent defeats had affected morale within the squad and staff during a difficult run across league and European competition. "Marseille is the ideal place for me, without knowing if Im the ideal coach for Marseille," De Zerbi said on Friday, as quoted by L'Equipe. "I have the strength to stay in Marseille for five or six years because I love it, it's my passion. What upsets me is the lack of consistency, the feeling of powerlessness. These are defeats that leave their mark, but we have the strength to bounce back, as we always have. "
Defeat tonight.#CLUOM | - | pic.twitter.com/XcZ7Lu26JBOlympique de Marseille (@OM_English) January 28, 2026
As Marseille turn focus back to Ligue 1 and the meeting with Paris FC, De Zerbi’s stance signals a wish to build stability over five or six years, yet the coach has admitted that recent setbacks in Europe and the league have left deep frustration while also offering a chance for the squad to respond.
