A detailed report by The Athletic revealed precise details about the period of Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi with Olympique Marseille, explaining that the reasons for the collapse of his project were not only technical, but largely due to tensions within the locker room and a strict management style that created a gap between him and the players.

The report stated that De Zerbi tried to implement a highly disciplined training style, imposing strict surveillance on players within the training center, from attendance and departure times to details of physical preparation and nutrition, creating a feeling among some players that they were under constant monitoring and that the coach's tactical decisions were not understood or open for discussion within the team.

The report added that the relationship between the Italian coach and the players deteriorated with declining results, as some team members felt they were not developing despite the intense training, while doubts increased about his tactical decisions and lineup choices, leading to mutual loss of trust within the group.

The report also indicated that De Zerbi's project started strongly in his first season, leading Marseille to compete for the French league title and occupy second place, but it collapsed in the following season after exiting the Champions League and suffering heavy domestic defeats, most notably the harsh fall against Paris Saint-Germain with a large score, hastening the end of his experience.

In the end, Marseille's management decided to terminate his contract by mutual agreement, with a conviction within the club that the project was no longer sustainable due to losing control of the locker room and the pressures from fans and media, leading the Italian coach to leave an experience that was considered an ambitious step but ended turbulently.