‘Italy underestimated PSG' – Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi slams Italian ‘snobbery' over Ligue 1

Olympique de Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has taken a swipe at the Italian football establishment in the aftermath of Paris Saint-Germain's stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final on May 31st.
Speaking on Italian podcast Supernova, De Zerbi accused his native country of underestimating the French champions and failing to appreciate the rise in quality across Ligue 1. The Italian tactician, who initially claimed he wouldn't be watching the final at a press conference attended by Get French Football News – 'I was going to spend the evening on Netflix' – later offered a blunt analysis of the one-sided result.
Advertisement
'Italy didn't know PSG. Italy underestimated them. Italian football was arrogant – not Inter, but the country's attitude,' he stated. 'They didn't know they'd be kicking off from touch, didn't know Dembélé was in that form, didn't know Doué has talent on Yamal's level, or that Vitinha might be the best midfielder in the world right now. They didn't know João Neves was Portuguese-trained or where Pacho comes from.'
'Inter are a great team. Inzaghi is a top coach. There shouldn't be five goals of difference.'
However, the former Brighton and Shakhtar boss pivoted to a broader defence of Ligue 1's European stature, noting how France's top teams have proven their worth this season on the continental stage. 'PSG dominated Liverpool and many others. We [Marseille] finished second behind them. In Italy, they didn't write a word – they snubbed our league, thinking it's average. That's not true.'
GFFN | George Boxall

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

13 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Habz, Stark light up Diamond League as Girma banishes Paris blues

France's Azeddine Habz (C) celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's 1500m (EMMA DA SILVA) Unheralded Azzedine Habz and Grace Stark lit up a drama-loaded Diamond League meet in Paris on Friday, snatching the limelight with two outstanding performances that put a raft of higher-profile athletes in the shade. Paris proved to be the perfect testing ground as athletes continue to fine-tune their form ahead of September's world championships in Tokyo. Advertisement Habz sent the partisan crowd into raptures by becoming the sixth fastest man over 1500m of all time, riding the coattails of two pacemakers to clock 3:27.49 for a meet record and new French best. In a shockingly fast race, Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech set a world junior record in second, while 11 of the next 12 athletes all timed personal bests, including national records for the Netherlands, Belgium and South Africa. "It's incredible, there's no other word for it," said the 31-year-old Morocco-born Habz, twice a minor medallist at European indoors. "It's truly a dream come true. To succeed in a race like this in Paris is even stronger." Advertisement There were a rash of further meet records in perfect, hot conditions at Stade Charlety. American Stark clocked 12.21sec in the 100m hurdles to go joint fifth fastest of all time, holding off Nigeria's 2022 world champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan. "I wanted to break that 12.3 so bad!" Stark said. "It feels that I can have a party. "And then, I just need to keep working, taking it race by race, stay focused and stay quiet." Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino made no mistake in the women's 400m although she had to pull out all stops down the home straight to outpace Bahraini rival Salwa Eid Naser. Advertisement Paulino, gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds in Budapest, made it three victories in a row at Charlety in 48.81sec, four-hundredths ahead of Naser. American Rai Benjamin also racked up a meet record of 46.93sec in the 400m hurdles, making easy work of the victory in the absence of Norwegian arch-rival Karsten Warholm and Brazilian Alison Dos Santos. "Sub-47 is impressive. I just ran smart and ran for the win," said Benjamin. - 'A little scared' - Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma lit up the 2023 edition of the Meeting de Paris by smashing the previous world record (7:52.11) for the 3,000m steeplechase. Advertisement There was disaster at the Paris Olympics, however, after Girma fell heavily in the last lap of the Stade de France track. But he made a winning return to Stade Charlety, winning in 8:07.01 after admitting he had overcome a sense of dread. "This is a big thing for me today, especially after the Paris Olympics," Girma said. "It feels it was a long time ago, so this was very important for me. This is a very big achievement, so I am very happy." "I was a little scared at first getting into the race. Now that the race is finished I feel much better." Morocco's Sofiane El Bakkali is the two-time Olympic steeplechase champion, but he opted to race the 5,000m in Paris alongside the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who claimed his 11th Diamond League victory in 12:47.84. Advertisement Kenya's Faith Cherotich ran a world lead of 8:53.37 in the women's steeplechase, holding off Uganda's Peruth Chemutai. Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, a two-time world indoor champion who has won twice in Paris (2021, 2023), won the women's high jump with a best of 2.00m. Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the world and Olympic champion who set the current world record of 2.10 metres at last year's Diamond League meet in Paris, finished second with 1.97m on countback from another Australian, Eleanor Patterson. Grant Holloway, the three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist making his return to action after a disastrous opening outing in China, could only finish fifth in the 110m hurdles, albeit in a season's best of 13.11sec. Advertisement It was his US teammate Trey Cunningham who won in a personal best of 13.00sec, ahead of Dylan Beard, also in a PB of 13.02sec, while Jason Joseph set a Swiss record of 13.07 for third. And Spain's Mohamed Attaoui picked an inside line to outpace the American duo of Josh Hoey and Bryce Hoppel in what he called a "brutal" 800m in a season's best of 1:42.73. lp/ea

New York Post

30 minutes ago

• New York Post

Club World Cup 2025: How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors for free

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Friday's FIFA Club World Cup nightcap features two of the most historic clubs in the world – even if their home stadiums sit more than 7,000 miles apart. Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga is coming off a dominant 10-0 win over New Zealand's Auckland City FC on June 15, and currently holds second place in Group C. Bayern earned a spot in the Club World Cup through their performance in the UEFA Champions League across the qualifying period of 2021-2024. Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors : what to know When: June 20, 9 p.m. ET June 20, Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Florida) Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Florida) Streaming: DAZN They'll face off against Boca Juniors, of the Argentine Primera División. The Buenos Aires-based side enters Friday's match in third place in Group C after a 2-2 draw against Benfica on June 16. Boca Juniors earned a berth in the Club World Cup by way of their results in CONMEBOL's annual Copa Libertadores across the qualifying period of 2021-24. Here's everything you need to know about Bayern München vs. Boca Juniors, including how you can tune in for free on DAZN. When is the Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors match? Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup today, June 20, at 9 p.m. ET. How to watch Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors in the FIFA Club World Cup for free: The Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors match, like every match in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is streaming on DAZN. No matter where you are in the world, you can watch the FIFA Club World Cup for free on DAZN. All you need to get started is an email address. No subscription is required, but you will have to make a free account on the streamer to start watching. DAZN also has premium, paid options available to enhance your viewing experience with HDR picture, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound, and fewer ads. DAZN Premium plans begin at $19.99/month. Bayern Munich Club World Cup schedule: Bayern Munich 10, Auckland City 0 vs. Boca Juniors — June 20, 9 p.m. ET vs. Benfica — June 24, 3 p.m. ET Boca Juniors Club World Cup schedule: Boca Juniors 2, Benfica 2 vs. Bayern Munich — June 20, 9 p.m. ET vs. Auckland City — June 24, 3 p.m. ET 2025 FIFA Club World Cup key dates: Group Stage : Saturday, June 14 – Thursday, June 26 : Saturday, June 14 – Thursday, June 26 Round of 16 : Saturday, June 28 – Tuesday, July 1 : Saturday, June 28 – Tuesday, July 1 Quarter-Finals : Friday, July 4 – Saturday, July 5 : Friday, July 4 – Saturday, July 5 Semi-Finals : Tuesday, July 8 – Wednesday, July 9 : Tuesday, July 8 – Wednesday, July 9 Final: Sunday, July 13

Yahoo

37 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Exclusive: Fiorentina to continue Fazzini talks this weekend

Fiorentina and Empoli directors will get in touch over the weekend to discuss Jacopo Fazzini's possible move to the Stadio Franchi. Fiorentina are eager to secure an agreement for Empoli midfielder Fazzini. Fiorentina push to close Fazzini deal epa12135394 Empoli's midfielder Jacopo Fazzini celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Italian serie A soccer match Empoli FC vs Hellas Verona FC at Carlo Castellani Stadium in Empoli, Italy, 25 May 2025. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI Sources with direct knowledge of the matter inform me that the Tuscans have already offered €9m plus add-ons, but are prepared to raise their proposal to narrow the gap with Empoli's €12m-€13m asking price. Advertisement The two clubs will continue negotiations over the weekend. Fiorentina are expected to announce Stefano Pioli as their new head coach, while Edin Dzeko completed his medical tests on Thursday and will soon be confirmed as the first new signing of Fiorentina's new course.