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Julien Stéphan and Rennes, the bad patch

2021-02-26T07:28:29.411Z


The Breton club coach is going through the "most difficult" period of his young career. But he remains confident as his team will welcome Nice this Friday (9 p.m.) at the opening of the 27th day of Ligue 1. 


Sacred in the Coupe de France five months after his appointment in December 2018, third in Ligue 1 in the spring of 2020, Rennes coach Julien Stéphan is going through a complicated period in 2020-2021 while his team, which has been failing for success since mid-January, receives Nice (16th) Friday (9:00 p.m.).

In search of a new European qualification for next season, the Breton club lost its fifth place last weekend to Lens, after having already seriously stalled in the fall, during a first Ligue des Overall disappointing champions (one draw, five losses).

After two draws and three defeats in L1 since January 17 and an elimination in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France, Stade Rennes (38 pts) is playing part of its future with the reception of Nice on Friday at Roazhon Park for the 27th day of L1.

"We are a team that has neither success nor taken the number of points expected for a certain number of matches."

Julien Stephan

“Our latest results are not positive,” admits Stéphan himself.

“We are a team which has neither success nor taken the expected number of points for a certain number of matches.

But if we were really sick, I don't think that the players would have clung so much to Montpellier (1-2) despite the contrary facts ... It's a slower period.

We are in lack of points, but we all hang together ”, argues the young coach of 40 years.

Saying to wait for a revolt of his group for several matches, Julien Stéphan admits living the period "surely the most difficult" since his arrival in Rennes.

“Because we are expected, we are played differently from two years ago.

There are more expectations, more pressure too.

All of this is different to understand.

Yes, but it's part of the life of a trainer, ”he plays down.

Stéphan not threatened, according to his management

However, despite the recurring ills displayed by his team, in particular a cruel lack of offensive efficiency and a sometimes worrying defensive feverishness, Stéphan ensures that he still has the keys to relaunch Stade Rennes.

“I am not at a loss.

The life of coaches is made up of very good times, I've had the chance to experience many over the past two years, and also more difficult times, where things are not going well, where we encounter more difficulties.

You have to be lucid and as objective as possible, without darkening, without embellishing, ”he said on Wednesday.

Last week, President Nicolas Holveck and Technical Director Florian Maurice indicated that their coach, under contract until June 2022, was absolutely not threatened.

They just reminded the whole group of the European ambitions expressed at the start of the season.

For the rest, the idea of ​​an extension of the young technician, mentioned last December by the same management, has not advanced.

“We did not discuss it again between us.

And, very sincerely, when you are in a lean period, you have all your energy grabbed by everyday life, ”swept the Rennes coach for his part.

“We put pressure on ourselves every day.

Afterwards, for management to reaffirm ambitions, it makes sense.

We are all facing our responsibilities from the first to the last day.

We want to turn the tide, ”he says.

Words to be translated into action Friday against Nice, under penalty of seeing Rennes stagnate a little more, far from the ambitions displayed at the start of the season after a particularly expensive transfer window.

Read also

  • League 1 standings

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-02-26

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