Florian Maurice does not understand.
The sports director of Rennes is struggling to grasp the absence of Martin Terrier and to a lesser degree of Benjamin Bourigeaud at the Blues during the last World Cup in Qatar, where Didier Deschamps' men lost in the final against Argentina .
The only Rennes of the France group was Steve Mandanda.
In an interview with LÉquipe where he sweeps the news of the Breton club, the former striker of Lyon or PSG is surprised at the attitude of the coach, whom he is careful not to name.
"I have a very good relationship with the U23 coach
(Editor's note: Sylvain Ripoll)
, yet I don't know him personally," explains the Rennes manager.
He calls me regularly to ask me:
how is he today?
So I'm a little surprised not to get a phone call about the national team.
Because in my squad there is a player
(Editor's note: Terrier)
who scored 21 goals last season
(Editor's note: 8 goals and three assists in 14 L 1 games this season)
, who is one of the best French players and I never received a call.
I find that a little surprising, I don't know if it sucks to say it or not, but that's okay (…) Maybe he doesn't like Martin's profile, or maybe there's something else and there you have to ask yourself.
Deeply.
»
[SELECTION]
Our striker 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿, author of 23 goals this year, is selected by Bruno Genesio for the reception of TéFéCé.
💪
Congratulations Martin!
👏 pic.twitter.com/W4xnN8vAKd
— Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) November 12, 2022
Maurice sweeps away any doubts there may be about the mental abilities of his striker, who has already been shortlisted for the France team.
“We wonder about his mental aspect?
They have to stop questioning themselves, all of them, he blurts out.
He's no longer the little boy they had in Lille or Strasbourg, it's over.
And he proves it every day.
»
“Go away abroad to play in the France team?
»
In 1998, Maurice had not been retained in the tricolor jersey and had seen France win its first star without him.
He understands the bitterness of his players.
"He
(Editor's note: Deschamps)
is a finalist, what do you mean? He breathes.
It's like me when I was not taken in 1998. You shut your mouth because they won and Jacquet was right.
Kolo Muani made an exceptional entry.
I'm not criticizing the level of the player, he's a great player.
But I had heard:
yes, to go to the France team, you have to have experience, to have played in the European Cup!
Martin Terrier has played all three, so what does it take?
»
Terrier is on the shelves of Premier League clubs.
Could exile open the doors of selection to him?
“What message are you sending to French players in fact?, slice Maurice.
Go away abroad to play in the France team?
This is not necessarily the right message.
»
