Two red cards. Nine men. Zero points. And Roberto De Zerbi throwing his watch across the technical area in pure, unfiltered rage.
Welcome to 2026, Marseille fans. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
The Vélodrome fell silent on Sunday afternoon as struggling Nantes — yes, Nantes — rolled into town and walked away with all three points. A 2-0 defeat that exposed everything wrong with De Zerbi's project.
The Vermeeren disaster
Here's the thing about Arthur Vermeeren. The Belgian kid has talent. Real talent. But what possessed him to launch himself studs-up at Anthony Lopes in the 26th minute?
De Zerbi admitted afterward that Vermeeren had endured a poor training week. The gaffer even pulled him aside on Saturday, told him he still had faith in him, still wanted him to start.
"He thanked me," De Zerbi said, his voice dripping with frustration. "But I didn't expect this performance."
No kidding.
The tackle was reckless. Dangerous. The kind of challenge that gets you sent off in Sunday league, let alone Ligue 1. Referee Marc Bollengier didn't even hesitate. Straight red. And just five minutes later, Fabien Centonze tapped in after Rulli saved from Matthis Abline.
Game over before half-time.
Nadir makes it worse — somehow
You'd think being down to ten men would teach Marseille something about discipline. You'd be wrong.
Bilal Nadir, brought on as Vermeeren's replacement, picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. The second, for a clumsy foul on Deiver Machado, came in the 56th minute. Nine against eleven. At home. Against a side that hadn't won in seven matches.
Nadir left the pitch in tears. The lad's only 22. He'll learn. But right now? Complete and utter shambles.
De Zerbi's confession
The post-match press conference was painful viewing. De Zerbi didn't hide. Give him credit for that.
"We weren't playing well even at eleven," he admitted. "We didn't have what it takes to win a match in Ligue 1. If you don't bring the right energy, the right fire, you lose against everyone."
Then came the line that will haunt OM fans all week: "I'd like to understand why, systematically here in Marseille, we have these roller-coasters, these highs and lows. This is my 12th season as a coach, but you have to be more of a psychologist than a coach today."
More of a psychologist than a coach. At Marseille. Good luck with that, Roberto.
The Cabella revenge tour
Of course it had to be Rémy Cabella who sealed it. Of course.
The former OM man, back in Ligue 1 after signing for Nantes this winter window, came off the bench and converted the late penalty that made it 2-0. Benjamin Pavard — yes, that Benjamin Pavard — brought down Abline in the box. Cabella stepped up. Clinical.
"I want to congratulate the players because it's not easy to win in Marseille, even if they finished with nine men," Cabella told Ligue1+ afterward. "We did a very good first half. In Nantes' situation, sometimes it's complicated, but we have an objective and we're taking it match by match."
Mission accomplished for Ahmed Kantari's men. They're out of the bottom three. Marseille? Still third. But that gap to Lens is now eight points. Eight. And PSG are four clear.
A minute's silence, then madness
The afternoon had started with such dignity. Marseille fans held a minute's silence for Jean-Louis Gasset, the former OM manager who passed away on December 26 at 72. The South Winners unfurled a tifo bearing his face. "RIP Gasset."
Gasset stabilised this club in 2024 when everything was falling apart. Five consecutive wins to start his tenure — a feat not seen since 1962. He deserved better than what followed.
What now for De Zerbi?
Let's be blunt. If Marseille play like this against PSG in the Trophée des Champions on Wednesday, it'll be a bloodbath.
De Zerbi's side are mentally fragile. That's been obvious for months, but this defeat laid it bare. Mason Greenwood, their top scorer with 11 goals, was anonymous. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, rushed back from AFCON duty with Gabon, couldn't save them.
The Italian knows he's under scrutiny. "I don't feel guilty because I always give everything," he said. "But I'm going home wounded after losing this match in this way. We didn't have the fire in our eyes."
Fire in their eyes? This Marseille side barely had a pulse.
Nantes' commando mission continues
Kantari called it a "commando mission" when he took over Nantes. Three points at the Vélodrome is exactly the kind of smash-and-grab result that keeps relegation-threatened clubs alive.
Abline was magnificent down the left. Centonze took his goal well. And Lopes — facing the club that let him go years ago — kept everything out until Cabella's penalty made it academic.
"It wasn't easy, but we showed character," Kantari said. "That gives you a smile."
Marseille fans aren't smiling. They're demanding answers. And right now, De Zerbi doesn't have any.
The verdict
This was embarrassing. Full stop.
Marseille are supposed to be title challengers. They're supposed to be the team that keeps PSG honest. Instead, they're losing at home to a side fighting for survival, finishing matches with nine men, and watching their manager question whether he needs to become a therapist.
Third place suddenly looks very shaky. Lille drew with Rennes and are level on points. Lyon are breathing down their necks. And up ahead, Lens keep rolling — seven wins on the bounce.
De Zerbi wanted fire. He got ashes.