Rumoured Manchester United target Roberto de Zerbi speaks out ahead of Trophée des Champions showdown with PSG

If Manchester United are indeed considering Roberto de Zerbi as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, they might do well to consider whether poaching the Marseille head coach would represent a move out the frying pan and into the fire.

De Zerbi is nothing if not outspoken and, true to form, the Italian was in no mood to mince words last week, when he contemplated the prospect of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions, the French equivalent of the Community Shield, in Kuwait on Wednesday night.

“The venue bothers me,” said De Zerbi, who had previously expressed concern about travelling “a long distance at a crucial point in the season”. 

Robert De Zerbi: ‘I will go to Kuwait because it’s my job’

“This kind of match should be played in the country in question, in front of the clubs’ supporters. But I will go to Kuwait because it’s my job, and we are proud to play this match. It’s not a question related to the country or football.”

If United thought Amorim overstepped the mark when he said he wanted to work as the club’s manager rather than its coach, heaven knows what they would make of De Zerbi, a man even less inclined to speak in riddles. 

Despite his tendency to shoot from the lip, however, the 46-year-old Italian knows how to handle a high-pressure situation. Last season, when failure to achieve Champions League qualification would have been ruinous following a summer of heavy investment, De Zerbi guided Marseille through a tumultuous run-in to finish second. Having touched down in Kuwait, he offered a clear-headed assessment of the challenge ahead. 

De Zerbi calls for ‘very high intensity and commitment’

“We need to approach this match with very high intensity and commitment, as if it were something more than just a trophy,” said De Zerbi, whose adroit handling of Mason Greenwood will no doubt have been noted by United. “We want to showcase our qualities. We’ll need the courage to play when we have the ball, and to regroup when we don’t.”

Currently third in Ligue 1 behind PSG and leaders Lens, Marseille arrived in the Persian Gulf fresh from a 2-0 home defeat to Nantes on Sunday, a game they ended with nine men after Arthur Vermeeren and Bilal Nadir both saw red. Yet inspiration can be drawn from September’s 1-0 win over Luis Enrique’s European champions at the Stade Vélodrome, one of only two defeats PSG have suffered in the league this term. Enrique insists his team will not be motivated by revenge.

PSG boss Luis Enrique: ‘It’s not revenge’

“When you play a Classique against Olympique Marseille and on top of that it’s a final, it’s not a revenge for the league,” said the former Barcelona coach. “We’ll need to manage emotions well and pay attention to details. It’s not revenge, but we know how important this match is for the supporters, the club, and the team. 

“Marseille has quality players, but we want to dominate the match, keep possession, and press as quickly as possible to win the ball back as fast as possible. We want to be ready to face any situation during the match.”