'Not in the right condition' – Mason Greenwood benching for Classique loss to PSG explained as Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi compares ex-Man Utd forward to Ousmane Dembele

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained why Mason Greenwood was left out of his starting XI for the defeat to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Winger has 15 goals to his name
• Has been dropped to the bench
• Must prove himself to manager

• Getty
  

  Table of Contents

  Toggle

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The former Manchester United forward has registered 15 goals this season, with a productive start to his debut campaign at Stade Velodrome being enjoyed. There have been suggestions that another big-money transfer for Greenwood could be lined up in the summer of 2025.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  He is, however, having to make peace with bench duty at present. Having been introduced at half-time in a 1-0 loss to Lens, Greenwood only entered proceedings against PSG as a 63rd-minute substitute – as Marseille went down 3-1 at Parc des Princes.

• Getty
  

  ROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID

  De Zerbi told afterwards of why Greenwood is not figuring as prominently as many people expected, with PSG star Ousmane Dembele used as an example of how fortunes can change: "For me, he's not in the right physical condition to play. Mason is a crucial player for us. But if I'm not mistaken, at the beginning of the season Dembele wasn't in the starting XI. We need Mason, but he has to be in good physical condition. It's very important at this point in the season."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

  Marseille remain second in the Ligue 1 table for now but need to rediscover a spark as individuals and a collective through their final eight fixtures as just six points separate them from sixth-placed Strasbourg and a standing outside of the European qualification spots.