Mr Moreira “confirms” Mangane’s sending off

Before the game in Marseille next Saturday, Stade Rennes will be playing another very different game this week. Disillusioned after Kader Mangane’s sending off, Frédéric Antonetti had a word with Mr. Moreira after the game, hoping his player could be rehabilitated for next game week’s clash at Stade Vélodrome.

During the post-game press conference, the Corsican manager revealed that the referee had hesitations when sending Mangane off : “He (Sébastien Moreira) told me he wanted to give him a yellow card first, but was scared of a possible injury of Camara”. On a challenge with Mangane in the airs, the Montpellier striker had lost consciousness before recovering a few minutes later

However, Moreira doesn’t seem to be inclined to change his report on Mangane, as he explained to l’Equipe yesterday: “I admit my mistakes quite easily when I’m wrong. But this time it isn’t a mistake, only an interpretation. I will confirm the sending-off, but I will precise my reasons to give the red card”. The discipline commission will be giving its verdict this Thursday on Mangane’s sanction. But the odds to see the Rennes defender on the pitch in Marseille are now very thin.