
Guardiola Confesses to De Zerbi! “Until 2 a.m….”
How Pep’s Admiration Meets Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille Revolution
Football is full of stories about mentorship, respect, and rivalry. Few, however, are as fascinating as the relationship between Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi. Two tacticians cut from the same cloth but with their own distinctive strokes, they share an obsession with detail and a philosophy rooted in bravery and attacking football.
So when Guardiola recently confessed to De Zerbi — joking that their conversations sometimes run “until 2 a.m.” — it was more than a throwaway line. It was a window into the deep mutual respect between one of the greatest managers in history and one of the most exciting up-and-coming minds in the modern game.
And if Marseille’s start to the season is anything to go by, De Zerbi is not just living in Guardiola’s shadow. He’s building a legacy of his own.
What Happened? The Gamble That Paid Off
When Pablo Longoria, Marseille’s president, began searching for a new manager last summer, his ambitions seemed outlandish. Roberto De Zerbi had just left Brighton, where he’d elevated the club’s style and reputation in the Premier League. For many observers, the idea of luring such a coveted coach to the south of France seemed like fantasy.
Longoria himself admitted it felt like chasing the impossible. But he took the risk — he made the call, he made the pitch, and against the odds, De Zerbi said yes.
The gamble, it turns out, is paying off handsomely. Marseille, a club too often known for chaos and instability, suddenly looks organised, daring, and — perhaps most importantly — competitive again.
Guardiola Did Not Hide His Admiration

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Comparisons between Guardiola and De Zerbi are inevitable. Both are obsessive in their pursuit of control, relentless in their demands for precision, and committed to bold, attacking football. But what makes their relationship unique is Pep’s willingness to openly praise De Zerbi.
Guardiola has said more than once that he has learned from De Zerbi — a rare admission from a man who himself has influenced a generation of managers. He’s spoken about how he studied Brighton’s patterns under the Italian, how impressed he was with their positional play, and how De Zerbi’s innovations pushed him to rethink aspects of his own approach.
That’s high praise. Guardiola, after all, is the benchmark for modern football coaching. To say that he’s borrowed from De Zerbi is to confirm that the Italian is not just a promising manager, but already part of football’s tactical elite.
The Pep and De Zerbi Connection
Their friendship goes back several years. Before taking Brighton, and before his current adventure with Marseille, De Zerbi spent time observing Guardiola’s work. He absorbed ideas during his spells at Shakhtar Donetsk and later in England, watching how Pep constructed his teams and demanded discipline with the ball.
But he was never a copycat. De Zerbi always insisted on making the philosophy his own, adding an edge of risk-taking and a touch of Italian flair. The result is football that looks familiar to Pep’s Barcelona-inspired blueprint but still feels distinctly De Zerbi: aggressive pressing, brave passing out of the back, and attackers who are encouraged to improvise in the final third.
It is perhaps no surprise, then, that when they talk, they talk deep. According to reports, Guardiola and De Zerbi can spend hours dissecting games, trading ideas, and debating strategies — sometimes until the early hours of the morning.
What Was Said: Admiration From Within Marseille
It isn’t just Guardiola who’s mesmerised by De Zerbi. At Marseille, insiders have been quick to sing his praises. Former defender Mehdi Benatia recently shared his admiration in an interview with Corriere dello Sport:
“He’s beautiful and inspiring, he lives for football, just like me. He has an incredible passion, you should see how he prepares for matches. He has a Guardiola vibe to him, but believe me, he’s a unique manager. He breathes football and life. That’s just how he is.”
Benatia also revealed the extent of De Zerbi’s obsession:
“We talk until 2 a.m., a lot of the time we’re on video calls because we want to meet people face to face. Whenever we want.”
For players and staff alike, that intensity is contagious. It’s not just about drills on the training pitch, but about building a culture where everyone thinks about football all the time. For a club like Marseille — historically passionate, sometimes volatile — De Zerbi’s obsessive energy fits like a glove.
Beat PSG: The Statement Victory

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Words and philosophies are one thing. Results are another. De Zerbi’s credibility in Marseille skyrocketed when his side pulled off a monumental 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique.
It was their first home league win against PSG since 2011, nearly 14 years of waiting and frustration finally broken. The hero was Nayef Aguerd, whose fifth-minute goal sent the Velodrome into a frenzy. From then on, it was all about organisation, discipline, and belief — hallmarks of De Zerbi’s influence.
For Marseille supporters, this wasn’t just three points. It was a symbolic turning of the tide, a moment that suggested their club could once again compete with France’s dominant force.
What’s Next? Climbing the Ligue 1 Ladder
The PSG win wasn’t a one-off. Marseille followed it up by beating Strasbourg 2-1 on Friday night, moving to the top of the Ligue 1 table with 12 points from six matches. While the standings could still change by the weekend, the early signs are undeniable: De Zerbi has transformed a side often plagued by inconsistency into genuine contenders.
It’s still early days in what will be a long and grueling season, but Marseille now carries an identity. They have tactical clarity, defensive resilience, and an attacking intent that fans can believe in. For a club where managers often come and go in a storm of chaos, this stability feels like a revelation.
The Bigger Picture: Why Guardiola’s Confession Matters
Pep Guardiola has seen everything football has to offer. He’s managed Lionel Messi, he’s dominated leagues in Spain, Germany, and England, and he’s lifted the Champions League multiple times. For someone with that résumé to confess admiration for another coach is no small thing.
By acknowledging De Zerbi’s influence, Guardiola validates him on the highest stage. It’s one thing for pundits to rave about a young manager’s ideas, quite another for Pep himself to say he’s learned from them.
For De Zerbi, this isn’t about living in Pep’s shadow. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder with him, proving that his vision belongs at football’s top table.
Conclusion: From Confessions to Competition
Guardiola’s confession to De Zerbi — that they talk, study, and debate football late into the night — might sound like a quirky anecdote. But it captures something deeper: the meeting of two football minds obsessed with the game, constantly pushing each other, and shaping the future of how football is played.
For Marseille, this obsession is already bearing fruit. Beating PSG, climbing to the top of Ligue 1, and stabilising a historically unstable club are no small feats. For De Zerbi, it’s the beginning of a project that could define his career.
And for Guardiola? His words are both a compliment and a challenge. He sees in De Zerbi a kindred spirit, someone who can carry the philosophy forward, perhaps even in ways Pep himself hasn’t imagined yet.
The confession, then, is more than flattery. It’s recognition. It’s respect. And if Marseille keeps winning, it might just be the beginning of a rivalry — and friendship — that defines an era.
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