Back in Rennes, M’vila will have to get used to his new international status
For his first cap with France on Wednesday, Yann Mvila impressed the media, Antonetti and his teammates in the same way… A few hours before his first League game of the season, against Nancy, the young Rennes midfielder must learn to cope with his new status as a full international.
On Wednesday night, he stole the show for his first competitive game of the season. Against Norway, and for his premiere with France, Yann M’vila impressed everyone. This Thursday, the media were unanimous on the young Rennais’ performance: “Simply the best man on the pitch”. Jérôme Leroy, his teammate in Rennes, doesn’t think otherwise: «I had the feeling he played with France just as he does in Rennes. This is what national coaches are looking for, players able to do with the national team what they’re able to do with their club. »
Yann M’vila, twenty years old and perfectly unknown for most a year ago, is impressive of maturity. «He has a rare charisma. On the pitch, Yann gives off an in impression of strength and easiness. His potential is revealed now. Where could he improve? His mental force. At this level, difference is made in the head. », declares Jérôme Leroy, not an adept of “sucking up” to other players. Frédéric Antonetti agrees, he who has no doubt that « a great career is opening in front of Yann M’Vila”. Just a year ago, the Breton coach launched the defensive midfielder in Ligue 1. A few months later, he recommended him to Raymond Domenech. In June, the national coach included him in his 30 men squad in view of the World Cup.
An unsettling new Status for M’Vila?
A day before he returns to Ligue 1 against Nancy, are the media attention and his new condition of full international not be unsettling for the player? Antonetti knows, that the media exposition created by an International cap is “a hundred time more powerful than what it is in Ligue 1, maybe even the Champion’s League”. However, he has full confidence in his player: “Yann loves his football. He is down to earth. Obviously, it’s all going very quickly for him. Everything is always very quick in football… »
Now, his teammates see him joining the very bests. “Club trotter” Leroy is even recommending his young colleague to look out soon for a new challenge with a team stronger than the Stade Rennais: « Yann will soon need to reach another step to keep on improving. In Rennes, he will soon reach the top of the hill and not improve anymore, maybe regress. He’s got such a potential, he needs to play with top players. ». A recommendation Frédéric Antonetti was quick to moderate : « We’ll discuss this when he has 20 caps to his name. Yann needs time. He still has much to learn. A career is built by managing failures and success. »
Benjamin Keltz - Le Mensuel de Rennes
Picture : www.rennes.lemensuel.com