Lemoine: “If I had been offered a starting position...”

After the announcement of his transfer from Rennes to Saint-Étienne, Fabien Lemoine discussed the circumstances of his departure from Brittany for L’Équipe’s website.

Left out of the squad for Europa League, the player explained that it is the perspective to start the season on the bench, with the need to gain his place during the year, which convinced him to leave. “I talked about it with the coach, Lemoine explains. I wasn’t one of his first choices at midfield. He hoped I could fight back into the starting eleven during the season, but he couldn’t promise me anything. If I had been offered a starting position, we would not have reached that point. But I don’t hold a grudge against anyone”.

Long announced as ready to move to Évian on loan, the midfielder finally changed his mind after being contacted by the Saint-Etienne management. “There was no premeditation, or I would not have gone to Évian on Monday to undergo a medical, the Fougeres-born justified. It all happened during the night from Monday to Tuesday. I can understand that the Évian managers are a bit angry against me. I told them I’m sorry about it”.