Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi appeared in press statements after the 2-1 loss against Real Madrid in the first round of the Champions League group stage at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The coach said: "I am frustrated by our inability to get a better result. We lost, yes, but I am proud of the team because they played a good match and gave everything they had on the field."

He added: "My team includes many new players, some of whom played their second match in less than a week. There were many positive things, but it’s not easy to find the connection between the players immediately. We entered the match a bit hesitant."

Regarding the second penalty awarded to Real Madrid: "It is unjustified. It is shameful and a disgrace, and I would say the same thing even if the decision was in our favor."

He continued: "After Carvajal's red card, we could have taken more risks. I wished to see something extra, a different situation, with more courage. But we are at the beginning of the season; we leave here certain that such matches should become the norm. When we get used to coming to play here – me, the players, the fans – our impact will perhaps be different."

He added: "I am happy that we will play against PSG on Sunday, as facing Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain is what this group needs to improve, to move beyond an additional stage in terms of mentality and ambition. To see if we can be a great team in the future."

He concluded: "The conclusion is that I have a strong team, but today they played below their maximum level for various reasons. This evening we chose to leave larger spaces between the lines and less in depth. We will all work in the right direction to elevate Marseille to a higher level. The team is strong; I love the characteristics of my players, I love their mentality, their potential. To know what we will do this year, we need to understand many things: how all of that will integrate, what level of play we will be able to reach. We are still far from what I envision."