Quick Read
- De Zerbi challenges Greenwood to emulate Mbappé and Dembélé’s work rate.
- Greenwood has scored 24 goals in 40 games for Marseille but is urged to improve his pressing and off-ball movement.
- Upcoming matches against Real Madrid and PSG are seen as key tests for Greenwood’s development.
- Mbappé and Dembélé each contributed over 49 goals last season, setting the benchmark.
The Making of a Modern Forward: More Than Just Goals
Mason Greenwood’s journey at Olympique de Marseille has already delivered moments of brilliance. With 24 goals in 40 appearances, the English striker has quickly become a focal point of Marseille’s attack. Yet as the floodlights prepare to shine brightest—first at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid and then at home to PSG—his coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has issued a challenge that cuts to the heart of what separates good from great in modern football.
De Zerbi’s Challenge: The Benchmark of Mbappé and Dembélé
De Zerbi’s expectations are unambiguous. In a candid pre-match interview, he praised Greenwood’s attacking prowess but emphasized the need for a new dimension: relentless work off the ball. “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 stated, referencing two of Europe’s most dynamic forwards.
The coach’s comparison is intentional. Last season, Kylian Mbappé notched 49 goal contributions while Ousmane Dembélé reached 51—numbers that speak not only to their finishing but to their all-around impact. These are players who define games not just with goals but with energy, pressing, and an unwavering commitment to their teams’ cause.
The Crucible: Real Madrid and PSG Await
The timing of De Zerbi’s message is no coincidence. Greenwood faces his most demanding week yet: a Champions League debut against the star-studded Real Madrid, led by Mbappé himself, and a domestic showdown with Dembélé’s PSG. It’s a gauntlet that will test not just Greenwood’s technical ability, but his willingness to push his limits on and off the ball.
“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 implication is clear: talent is a foundation, but greatness is forged in the effort that goes unseen—the lung-busting sprints, the defensive recoveries, the willingness to press when fatigue sets in.
Greenwood’s Response: At the Crossroads of Potential and Expectation
For Marseille, Greenwood’s evolution is not just a personal journey—it’s central to their ambitions. The club’s faith in him is evident: he is their star, the man to lead them into Europe’s elite. Yet with that faith comes expectation. De Zerbi wants Greenwood to become a complete forward, one who doesn’t just finish attacks but initiates them, who helps win back possession, who leads by example.
Greenwood’s statistics are already impressive, but the French manager’s call for “total commitment” signals a belief that the Englishman can reach even greater heights. It’s a reminder that the modern game demands more than flair and finishing; it rewards those who marry talent with tenacity.
The Standard Bearers: Lessons from Mbappé and Dembélé
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have become benchmarks not only for their technical brilliance but for their relentless drive. Watching them is to see forwards who refuse to be passengers, who set the tone for their teams with every sprint, every press, every recovery run. Their high standards have turned them into global icons—and now, De Zerbi is asking Greenwood to walk the same path.
For Greenwood, this is more than a tactical adjustment. It’s a test of character and ambition. Will he embrace the challenge and transform his game, or settle for being merely talented? The answer may shape not just his own future, but Marseille’s fortunes in Europe and at home.
As the countdown to kickoff ticks away, one thing is clear: the spotlight is on Mason Greenwood, and the world is watching to see if he will rise to meet the standard set by the very best.
De Zerbi’s demand is not simply about tactics—it’s a call for Greenwood to match the total commitment that defines today’s elite forwards. If Greenwood answers, Marseille’s ambitions may yet be realized; if not, he risks being left in the shadow of those who turned potential into greatness. (Source: beIN Sports)