Roberto De Zerbi has 'something of Pep Guardiola' in him and is a 'beautiful and inspiring' coach as sporting director reveals 2am talks with Marseille boss

When Pablo Longoria picked up the phone last summer and called De Zerbi, the Marseille president admitted it felt like chasing the impossible. The Italian had just walked away from Brighton, and the thought of luring one of Europe’s most coveted tacticians to the south of France seemed fanciful. But Longoria got his man, and now the gamble looks like pure gold.

The comparisons with Guardiola are inevitable. The two are friends, sharing a philosophy that demands football be played with precision, courage and attacking intent. Guardiola has even publicly admitted that he has learned from De Zerbi, a rare acknowledgement from a man who has a seat among the greatest managers of all time. In fact, before arriving in England, De Zerbi had shadowed Guardiola between his spells at Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton, absorbing ideas but always determined to add his own spin.

Benatia could barely contain his admiration when asked about the Italian’s impact at the Velodrome. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, he said: "He's beautiful and inspiring, he lives for football like me. He has an overwhelming passion, you should see how he prepares matches. There's something of Guardiola in him, but believe me, he's a unique coach. He breathes football and he breathes life. In that order." 

According to Benatia, De Zerbi’s obsession borders on relentless.

"We talk until two in the morning, often on video calls because the manager wants to see people face to face. At any time," he revealed. 

De Zerbi’s philosophy bore fruit most spectacularly. Marseille stunned Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique with a 1-0 win, their first home league triumph over the Parisian giants since 2011. Nayef Aguerd’s fifth-minute strike was enough to end nearly 14 years of frustration and send the Velodrome into ecstasy. 

The PSG scalp wasn’t a one-off. On Friday evening, Marseille edged Strasbourg 2-1, climbing to the top of the Ligue 1 table with 12 points from six matches. However, the standings might change by the end of the matchweek. Although it’s early days in the marathon of a league season, the signs are unmistakable: De Zerbi has not only stabilised a club notorious for volatility, but he’s lifted them into contention.