Greenwood in the Mirror of the Stars

Olympique de Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi praised Mason Greenwood but also issued him a warning ahead of the Champions League debut against Real Madrid. The Italian insisted that if the English forward wants to reach the very top, he must learn from Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé.

Greenwood has already scored 24 goals in 40 games for Marseille, but his coach believes there is still plenty of room for improvement. “If he wants to become a great player, he must run off the ball. I saw Mbappé, I saw Dembélé pressing without the ball, and Greenwood has to do it too,” De Zerbi explained.

The Challenge of Pressing Without the Ball

The Italian manager emphasized the defensive side of the former Manchester United player. “He has worked on pressing, but not always. When he wants to, he does it, and he must understand that this effort is what separates the greats,” De Zerbi insisted.

The comparison is no coincidence: last season, Mbappé recorded 49 goal contributions and Dembélé reached 51, far above Greenwood. The message is clear: the talent is there, but so is the demand.

A Decisive Week for Marseille

Greenwood’s test comes immediately: first against Mbappé’s Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu this Tuesday, and then against Dembélé’s PSG on Sunday in Ligue 1. Two challenges that could show if he is ready to take the final step to the top level.

Marseille trusts that their star will rise to the occasion. Greenwood has already shone, but De Zerbi is asking for more: not just goals, but total commitment. The mirror is clear: Mbappé and Dembélé set the standard.