Managing a top football club isn’t just about tactics and transfers—it’s also about navigating high-pressure personalities.
And a newly released documentary from Marseille is shining a light on just how intense things got during Roberto De Zerbi’s first season in charge.
A Heated Exchange on the Training Pitch
In a particularly explosive moment captured in the documentary, De Zerbi was seen losing his temper with midfielder Ismaël Koné during a training session last season.
The footage shows Koné getting dispossessed, prompting a visibly frustrated De Zerbi to yell, “Oh my god, when I say reduce the touches, reduce the touches!”
The Italian manager didn’t stop there. Clearly unimpressed, he told Koné to leave the session: “I can’t play.
Go get a shower. Go get a shower, Isma. We are Olympique Marseille.”
It was a statement that didn’t just dismiss the player—it emphasized the standards expected at the club.
“Call Your Agent!” – The Clash Escalates
As Koné began to walk away, De Zerbi kept pressing, shouting after him: “Call your agent, call your agent, he comes here!” Koné, trying to stay composed, replied: “I didn’t say anything,” but De Zerbi barked back with a firm “Go inside!”
The confrontation quickly drew in coaching staff and players, who rushed over to separate the two before things spiraled further.
A Turning Point for Koné’s Future
In the documentary, De Zerbi didn’t hold back on why tensions had boiled over.
While he acknowledged Koné’s talent, he made it clear that the young midfielder lacked the consistency and professionalism expected at a club like Marseille.
“He has huge potential,” De Zerbi said. “But the gap between his highs and lows was just too wide.
He wasn’t always behaving the way a Marseille player should.”
From First Signing to Loan Exit
Koné had actually been De Zerbi’s very first signing after taking the Marseille job, arriving from Watford in a £15 million deal.
But the dream move quickly turned sour. After just eight league appearances, he was loaned out to Rennes in January.
Sporting director Medhi Benatia reflected on the incident, saying Koné didn’t quite grasp what he had walked into.
“He came from Watford thinking Marseille might be just a small step up.
But this is a club operating at level five, not level two.”
A Lesson in Professionalism
Benatia recalled being on the sidelines when the argument took place and said he tried to de-escalate the situation: “I just told him, ‘Go to the dressing room, we’ll talk later.’ No blame, just questions.
But when he turned back… that’s when things went wrong.”
He added with regret, “I really like Isma, but unfortunately, he never fully understood what Marseille demands.”
Teammates Caught in the Crossfire
One of those watching the clash unfold was Jonathan Rowe, who was asked by De Zerbi whether Koné had been training properly.
Rowe wisely declined to comment, later describing it as “one of the most tense moments” of the entire season.
De Zerbi later acknowledged that the confrontation may have startled some of the players.
But with 30 years in football under his belt, he brushed it off: “I’m used to this.”
A Bitter Final Twist
Despite the fallout, Koné did manage to score against Marseille on the final day of the season.
But his goal wasn’t enough—Rennes lost 4-2 to De Zerbi’s side.
Now, Koné has moved on once more, this time joining Italian club Sassuolo on a season-long loan.
Sassuolo has the option to make the transfer permanent.
One Season, Many Lessons
For Marseille, this documentary moment wasn’t just drama for the cameras—it highlighted the razor-thin line between potential and performance at elite level.
And for Koné, it served as a hard lesson in what it really means to play for a club with high expectations and little patience for excuses.
