'We have small balls' - Roberto De Zerbi slams Mason Greenwood and Co in incredible rant after Marseille lose Ligue 1 opener to ten-man Rennes

Marseille fell 1-0 to Rennes courtesy of a late goal that stunned De Zerbi’s side, who had the upper hand numerically after a red in the. The defeat was followed by chaos in the dressing room, where several players turned on each other in frustration. English winger Jonathan Rowe was accused of a lack of effort, sparking a clash with Adrien Rabiot. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geronimo Rulli, and Leo Balerdi also contributed strong words in the dejected dressing room.

As per RMC Sport's source [h/t Daily Mail], De Zerbi said in the dressing room: "The others beat us on the pitch, and we come in here and fight among ourselves. You know what that means? That we have small balls. In Marseille, we need to have big ones."

Marseille’s opening-day loss has already raised questions about squad unity and discipline. De Zerbi, known for his fiery personality, has made clear that he expects stronger mental resolve from his players. After finishing second last season, pressure is high to deliver, but such scenes suggest a rocky road ahead.

Les Phoceens must regroup quickly with a long season still ahead of them. The fallout between Rabiot and Rowe could have transfer window consequences, especially if tensions linger. De Zerbi’s men face Paris FC next weekend as they look to put aside all the heat in the dressing room.