Scores Rennes en direct
9 January 2012 | à 17h52

Le Lay: « The Coupe de France? This is a true objective »

Le Lay: « The Coupe de France? This is a true objective »

Few hours before the Coupe de France match between Rennes and Nancy, Ouest-France published an interview of Patrick Le Lay, where the Stade Rennes’ president didn’t hesitate to announce that this competition could be one of the club’s objectives this season.
« This is indeed a true objective. Stade Rennes doesn’t have enough titles. This is the genetics of a club. One day, Rennes will have to win the Coupe de France, the successor of Frédéric de Saint-Sernin explained. We all hope that we will do it this year ».

Regarding the transfers, and while an interest for of Mevlüt Erding is confirmed, Patrick Le Lay also admitted that François Pinault, the majority shareholder, could consent to bring money if needed: « If we have a great opportunity, it is not excluded that a financial effort could be done », he recognized. An almost mandatory investment if Rennes wishes to attract the Turkish international to Brittany, since his current salary is quite superior to Rennes’ salary cap (the player would have a 200.000 euros monthly salary with Paris), but this could provoke the departure of several players in order to preserve a balanced wage bill. A balance which remains a major stake, « especially as the economical situation is quite uncertain with television rights that could be revised downwards for the next season », Le Lay asserts.

As for the first half of the season, the Rennes’ president estimates that the fifth place in Ligue 1 obtained just before the winter break is « logical », but the Europa League results were quite frustrating. « Of course, we have some regrets. And even disappointment », he admitted. He also reminded that the team « deserved at least to win a match », and that the presence of Rennes in European competitions should from now be written on « the genes » of the club.