The team, Antonetti, Transfers: Dréossi discusses the season

Contacted on the phone by RMC, Pierre Dréossi discussed the situation of the Stade Rennais, including the recent poor form, the situation of Frédéric Antonetti, and the upcoming transfer window.

«I am worried»

As Stade Rennes is experiencing a dreadful start to the winter, the game against Bordeaux this Wednesday appears as crucial. A situation which worries Pierre Dréossi: «We are on a run of three games without a win, we lost in Nice and in Ajaccio, the general manager reminds. I think this is not on the par with what we could do, this isn’t up to our expectations. We are running late (Ed.: at the same time last season, Stade Rennes had two more points that now), We have one game left, I hope it will go well tomorrow, but honestly I’m worried”.
«A team has got strong spells, but also times where it doesn’t work as well. In those harder times, it is my role to make sure there is a sense of solidarity, of trust, enough serenity to make those moments last as short as it is possible».

« A mental block »

The first clear assessment made around Rennes this season is its inconsistency, an ability to beat the biggest teams in the league and lose against teams from the bottom of the table. A fact the general manager is attempting to understand. “We are good enough to be an even match to Lyon, Marseille or Paris, but we can’t do it in games where we need more grinta, where other qualities are required, Dréossi notes. There, we have a big issue we haven’t solved, a mental block. The team is very young, and it doesn’t manage to get into those games with the right attitude”.
«We are in a bad situation. Is it because of the number of games we played including the Europa League? Is it because of the youth of the squad? I have no idea, but we certainly can’t be happy losing those games. It’s not all doom and gloom however. We will reach the winter break with close to 30 points. If we get above that bar tomorrow, we will have managed an interesting first half of the season, but including a difficult period, through December. I hope the year will finish on a positive note, but it is time for it to finish”.

«No problem with Frédéric Antonetti»

The subject of more and more discussions, Frédéric Antonetti is also experiencing difficult weeks. At the moment, the general manager promises that the Corsican manager keeps all his confidence. “Whether I am satisfied with Frédéric Antonetti’s work? For sure, Dréossi affirms. His work isn’t in question. When I see the number of players who have debuted in Ligue 1 since a year and a half, when I see the quality of our play on certain games, and the high-level games in which we were up to the challenge… Now, we need a bit more consistency, but I believe it is all linked to the mental qualities of the players rather than to the work of the manager. In all cases, I have no problem with Frédéric Antonetti whatsoever, I am very happy to work with him and above all, I am very happy with his work”.

«Consistency» for Erding

Finally, the transfer window will start on January 1st. An opportunity to finally sign the long-expected striker ? Ready to join Brittany last summer, but finally held back by his management, Paris’ Mevlüt Erding remains a target for Rennes, once again. “We tried last summer, but we couldn’t bring him here, Dréossi reminds. When it comes to him, we have a certain consistency in our ambitions and our reflexion, so if there is an opportunity, we won’t sneer at him. Now, are we able to sign him, I don’t know. Do Paris Saint-Germain really want to let him go, I don’t know either. All I know is that our opinion on the player hasn’t changed. If we have an opportunity to strengthen the team, and if we can afford it, I will discuss it with my stakeholder, and we will see whether it possible”.