It’s amazing what a pair of goals can do to shift the mood in a stadium.
Just before kickoff on Saturday night, Mason Greenwood was catching heat from Marseille fans.
But by the final whistle, the forward had done more than enough to turn jeers into cheers.
Frustration Boils Over in the Stands
Before the 5-1 rout against Montpellier even got underway, fans at the Orange Vélodrome made their displeasure loud and clear.
A bold banner in the north stand called out both Greenwood and teammate Luis Henrique.
The message? “Greenwood, Henrique, get moving!!!”—a not-so-subtle jab at their perceived lack of effort.
This criticism followed reports that manager Roberto De Zerbi had previously benched Greenwood due to concerns over his work rate.
The 23-year-old was only recently brought back into the starting lineup, and fans clearly expected more from the former Manchester United man.
Greenwood Lets His Football Do the Talking
If the fans wanted a response, Greenwood gave them one—fast.
Just eight minutes into the match, he coolly slotted home a penalty to give Marseille the lead.
Then, in the 67th minute, he struck again to seal his brace and remind everyone why he’s still considered one of the most naturally gifted forwards in the league.
With those two goals, Greenwood took his season tally in Ligue 1 to 18, trailing only PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé, who sits at 21.
It was the perfect answer to a tough week of criticism and speculation.
Marseille Climb the Table
Thanks to their dominant win, Marseille leapfrogged Monaco to take second place in the Ligue 1 standings.
With Champions League qualification now firmly in their sights, the team is finding form at the right time—even if PSG already wrapped up the title weeks ago.
For Marseille, this was more than just three points.
It was a statement win, and Greenwood’s performance was central to that.
De Zerbi: A Mix of Tough Love and Belief
Greenwood’s coach, Roberto De Zerbi, hasn’t shied away from tough love.
Just last month, he acknowledged that Greenwood wasn’t used to the kind of physical and mental grind expected at Marseille.
But De Zerbi also made it clear: he sees something special in the English forward.
“He’s a natural talent,” De Zerbi said recently. “Credit goes to his parents for that.
My job is to help him grow. Sometimes that means support, and sometimes it means pushing him harder.”
The manager went as far as saying Greenwood could become a Marseille legend, someone fans remember alongside the club’s greatest players.
A Complicated Journey to Redemption
Greenwood’s road to this point has been anything but smooth.
After his arrest in early 2022 and subsequent charges—which were later dropped due to lack of evidence—he left Manchester United and spent last season rebuilding his career at Getafe in Spain, scoring 10 goals and notching six assists.
His move to Marseille last summer wasn’t universally welcomed.
A segment of the club’s fanbase launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign, unhappy with his arrival.
But over time, his performances have started to win people over—though not without bumps along the way.
Looking Ahead: New Country, New Chapter?
Interestingly, Greenwood has taken steps to switch his international allegiance from England, where he earned a single cap, to Jamaica, managed by Steve McClaren.
It’s another sign that the forward is trying to redefine his identity on his own terms—both on and off the pitch.
As the season nears its conclusion, Greenwood’s brace against Montpellier could be a turning point—not just for Marseille’s Champions League hopes, but for his own complicated comeback story.