Marseille tops Ligue 1! De Zerbi: We must continue to play like this, Greenwood can be better

October 19th After Marseille defeated Le Havre 6-2 at home and climbed to the top of Ligue 1, head coach De Zerbi attended the post-match press conference. He talked about the game, the team's ranking, the performance of key players and the upcoming challenges.

How do you evaluate this game?

This is a tough game. We have three, four, five players who are not at their best. And, we just came back from the national team match day. We conceded two pretty stupid goals. This is a very important day because Marseille is ranked first. We could have been the best offensive line and the best defensive line at the same time. Credit goes to Pablo Longoria, Medi Benatia and the players. It's October 18th, not May 18th, so leading the standings isn't that important.

The team has started an important series of matches.

This is a very important game. The first game after a break is never easy because you have to get back on track. We have a difficult game in Lisbon in the Champions League. We then play away to Lens, the best defense in the league. If we want to stay at the top of the table, we have to win these kind of games.

How do you evaluate Greenwood's performance in this game?

This is a good question. Greenwood can do better, not in terms of goal numbers, but in terms of becoming one of the best players in the world. He has this strength. There are areas where he can improve. I want to protect him, he's always committed in training, but there are areas where he can improve.

Amin Guiri is about to undergo surgery. What are your plans for this?

The transfer market is still far away. We must focus on the present. Vaas is ready and he started against Metz. Robinho is also ready. I don't look at my ID card when I'm lining up my troops. Bakola, we're trying to get him to improve. We have Aubameyang and Gas, and then Traore will be back as well. He can play in the No. 10 position. Greenwood is also a center forward. I'm disappointed with Gujiri's injury, but not as angry with the national team as I read. This happens all the time.

How do you evaluate Aubameyang?

Aubameyang is a true champion player, he is different. He can score goals, assists, and is very fast. He is a true champion.

How do you feel about the team currently ranking first?

Pressure, I love it. This is not a problem. We have to keep playing like this. We lost in Lyon and Rennes. In Rennes we hit the post twice before conceding the ball. The important thing is that Marseille plays well, that's the only way to win the game. If they don't play well, Marseille won't win more than one or two games. We have strong players. The score is important, but playing well is more important.

Is the combination of Aubameyang and Gas feasible?

Yes, this can be a solution. When substitutions were made, we were playing 11 against 10. The issue then was not to keep the ball but to be more aggressive. Then it's time to take a risk.