De Zerbi Defends Ligue 1 Against Ronaldo’s Criticism
Roberto De Zerbi, head coach of Marseille, has pushed back against recent comments by Cristiano Ronaldo, who claimed that Ligue 1 is weaker than the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo, the star of Al-Nassr, had dismissed French football by stating that only Paris Saint-Germain is competitive.
"Ligue 1 is a stronger league than people outside of France believe," De Zerbi asserted. "The problem lies in how it’s marketed by those in charge. Unfortunately, outside France, Ligue 1 has the reputation of being a lower-tier league."
De Zerbi highlighted the quality within the league. "There are very strong players and coaches here, full stadiums, and a great atmosphere. It may not be marketed as well as the Premier League, the best league in Europe, or Serie A, La Liga, and the Bundesliga, but that doesn’t diminish its quality."
The Italian coach also addressed the issue of player retention. "It’s frustrating that Ligue 1 often develops top talent, only for these players to leave for other leagues. With better management or a shift in perception, they could stay in France and enhance the league further."
