
‘I Didn’t Like That’ – Roberto De Zerbi Explains Feud with Unai Emery After Mason Greenwood Bust-Up in Marseille vs Aston Villa Friendly
OM Boss Defends His Players as Touchline Tensions Boil Over in Pre-Season Clash
Pre-season friendlies are supposed to be about fitness, tactics, and ironing out the summer rust. But at the Stade Vélodrome on a hot August evening, Marseille’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa turned into something far more combustible — a fiery exchange that lit up the sidelines as much as the scoreboard.
At the heart of the drama were two passionate managers: Roberto De Zerbi and Unai Emery. The pair clashed verbally after a tense on-pitch incident involving Mason Greenwood and Tyrone Mings, with the Marseille boss later revealing he “didn’t like” Emery’s criticism of his players.
How It All Kicked Off
The spark came late in the match, when Mason Greenwood, newly signed by Marseille, went into a crunching challenge on Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana. It wasn’t a polite pre-season tackle; it was the kind that makes the crowd gasp and both benches tense up.
Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings took exception to the challenge, storming in and grabbing Greenwood by the collar. In the scuffle, Greenwood’s shirt was torn, and the pitch suddenly became a hive of pushing, pointing, and verbal jabs. Players from both sides swarmed in, and for a few heated moments, the “friendly” was anything but.
From Pitch to Touchline
The tension didn’t cool after the final whistle. Instead, it carried straight into the post-match handshake line. Emery and Roberto De Zerbi were seen exchanging sharp words, with both men gesturing animatedly.
When speaking to the press later, Roberto De Zerbi didn’t hide his irritation:
“The match was tense, but that’s also what the people came to see. They paid to come; they could have gone to the beach, but they came to the Velodrome. Unai? He complained about my players, and I didn’t like that. It’s up to me to talk to them; the opposing manager has to take care of his players.”
It was classic Roberto De Zerbi — unapologetic, protective, and not afraid to tell another manager exactly where the line is.
Why Roberto De Zerbi Reacted That Way
To understand Roberto De Zerbi’s response, you have to understand his coaching philosophy. Throughout his career, from Sassuolo to Brighton and now Marseille, he’s been fiercely loyal to his players. Criticism from outside — especially from an opposing manager — is something he’s rarely tolerated.
In his eyes, the role of a rival coach is to manage his own team, not comment on someone else’s. That principle goes beyond simple etiquette; it’s about protecting the trust he builds with his squad. If his players feel that he’ll stand up for them in public, they’ll give him everything on the pitch.
The Emery Perspective

Sunderland v Olympique Marseille – Pre-Season Friendly
Unai Emery, for his part, didn’t make a big public fuss after the match. But those who know him know that he’s equally intense, equally invested in his players’ wellbeing. From his perspective, Greenwood’s tackle on Onana may have crossed a line, and speaking up was a matter of defending his own team.
In other words, this wasn’t a case of a hot-headed manager looking for trouble — it was two fiercely competitive leaders sticking up for their own. Unfortunately, when those worlds collide, the result can be a touchline flashpoint.
Mason Greenwood in the Spotlight
Greenwood’s arrival in Marseille was always going to draw headlines, and this incident will only add to the scrutiny. For some OM supporters, the sight of him going in hard for a ball, showing fight in a friendly, might actually be encouraging — a sign he’s ready to contribute.
But it also invites questions about control and composure. Pre-season is rarely the place for reckless challenges, and the reaction from Aston Villa players showed just how much the tackle rattled them.
Tyrone Mings – The Enforcer
Mings’ intervention was immediate and forceful. The Aston Villa centre-back has never been shy about backing up his teammates, and in this case, he clearly felt Greenwood had overstepped. Grabbing an opponent by the collar is always risky — it can escalate a situation or earn a red card in a competitive match — but Mings’ actions sent a clear message: Aston Villa won’t be pushed around, even in pre-season.
Not Your Typical Friendly
The intensity of this match caught some by surprise. Pre-season games are often played at a slower tempo, with liberal substitutions and a focus on fitness. But from the first whistle, this one had the bite of a competitive fixture.
The Stade Vélodrome crowd played its part too. Marseille fans aren’t known for treating any match as a low-stakes event. The noise, the atmosphere, the pride — it all fed into the players’ emotions. By the time tempers flared, it felt like a Ligue 1 clash in full swing, not a warm-up game in August.
De Zerbi’s Public Defence
De Zerbi’s post-match comments were about more than just defending Greenwood or responding to Emery. They were also a statement to the Marseille faithful: “These are my players, and I’ll stand by them.”
In the cutthroat world of professional football, that kind of public loyalty matters. Players remember when a coach takes their side, and it can strengthen the bond inside the dressing room. It can also, of course, turn up the heat in future encounters with the same opponent.
The Bigger Picture for Marseille
Marseille will hope to channel this fiery energy into their Ligue 1 campaign. Roberto De Zerbi is known for demanding high intensity in every match, and if his players can harness their passion without crossing the line, they could become one of the league’s most formidable sides.
This pre-season test against a strong Aston Villa side may prove valuable — not just for fitness and tactics, but for building the kind of togetherness that comes from going to battle together.
Villa’s Takeaway
For Aston Villa, the match is a reminder that pre-season isn’t always smooth sailing. Losing 3-1 isn’t ideal, but the bigger concern will be keeping players fit and avoiding unnecessary suspensions or injuries before the Premier League kicks off.
Emery’s challenge now is to make sure the incident doesn’t distract from the bigger goals of preparation and team cohesion. Aston Villa’s domestic season will throw plenty of real challenges their way — they can’t afford to carry pre-season grudges into competitive fixtures.
What Happens Next

FBL-FRIENDLY-MARSEILLE-ASTON VILLA
For Roberto De Zerbi and Emery, the handshake line might be behind them, but the memory will linger. If Marseille and Aston Villa meet again — whether in Europe or in a future friendly — there will be an extra layer of intrigue.
Greenwood’s integration into the Marseille squad will also be under the microscope, both in terms of performance and discipline. As for Mings, his leadership and willingness to defend teammates will no doubt be appreciated inside the Aston Villa camp.
Final Thoughts
This was supposed to be just another pre-season warm-up, but instead it gave us a glimpse of the competitive fire that still burns in August. For Roberto De Zerbi, the feud with Unai Emery was about respect and boundaries. For Emery, it was about protecting his own.
In the end, it’s a reminder that football’s most compelling moments often come when passion overrides the script. And judging by the noise inside the Vélodrome, the fans wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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