Aston Villa manager Unai Emery clashed with Roberto De Zerbi at the end of Saturday night's friendly
Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi
Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi(Image: Getty Images)
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has revealed why he had a pop at Aston Villa boss Unai Emery at the end of Saturday’s pre-season friendly at the Stade Vélodrome.
It was a heated affair between Villa and their Ligue 1 counterparts, mainly as a result of the Marseille players trying to get their sell-out crowd off their seats.
After conceding early, Villa skipper John McGinn responded in the eighth minute to level the score after Mason Greenwood’s opener.
A late double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang downed Villa, but more than anything else, Emery will be relieved his squad escaped injury after full-time, given that tempers flared in the second half.
Clearly angry at some of the tackles Marseille players were making, and the antics they deployed, Emery made his frustrations known towards the end of the game.
De Zerbi responded on the touchline and exchanged words with the Villa boss, and in his post-match press conference, the Italian was asked about what specifically irritated him.
“The match was heated, but that's also what people came to see,” he started. “They paid to come, they could have gone to the beach but they came to the Vélodrome.
"With Unai, he complained about my players, and I didn't like that. It's up to me to talk to them; the opposing coach must look after his players."
De Zerbi added: "What I liked was the stadium, the enthusiasm of the crowd, and the atmosphere. We savored it all. We played a great match against a very strong team, led by one of the best coaches in Europe.
“We could have been more aggressive in the first half, and higher up the pitch without the ball. Which we managed to do in the second half. It was harder for Aston Villa to get past the midfield," the Italian coach revealed to the media.
“At this level, there are never any friendly matches or training sessions: when you wear the jersey, you have to be 100 per cent. We mustn't get caught out, because Friday's match will be completely different.
“The important thing is to maintain the same attitude, not to play superficially and not to think we're better than we are. We'll see the result later, but attitude must never be a mistake.”
Get your Aston Villa pre-season special edition of the Birmingham Mail
It promises to be an exciting season ahead for Aston Villa as Unai Emery's side look to build on last season's efforts and will look to finish even higher this time around.
Despite not achieving the same feat of the 2023/2024 season by securing a UEFA Champion's League spot — the 2024/25 campaign proved to be a decent one for the Villains. Villa managed to get into continental football by qualifying for the Europa League and will play their third consecutive season of European competition.
It looks as though there is a lot to look forward to this coming campaign. And with that in mind, we have produced our Aston Villa 2025/26 Kick-Off special — our brilliant guide to the new season.
Our team will help you navigate through what to expect from your team this coming season, turn the spotlight on Emery while also providing in-depth analysis and opinion on your club. We look at the summer's biggest signings, check out each ground, study the managers - new and old - and test your knowledge with our Premier League quiz.
And we also have a full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. The guide is available at retailers from August 6 but can be pre-ordered online now and it is a must have for any Aston Villa fan. It is the perfect accompaniment to the season and you can own it before the squad's opening fixture of the Premier League when they welcome Newcastle United to Villa Park on Saturday, August, 16.
Priced £3.50, pre-order your copy nowfrom our online store and get it delivered direct to your door.
Available to purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Birmingham from August 6, 2025. For online purchases, postage and packaging applies. Worldwide shipping is available.