Antonetti: « Our job will be done if we finish sixth »

« I am against all this euphoria around the club since a few weeks. To say the Stade Rennais can reach the Champions League is not ambitious at this moment, it’s pretentious!”. In his press conference before the game against Arles-Avignon, Frédéric Antonetti clearly wanted to issue a statement against an excess of enthusiasm. One of the biggest dangers for the club, unbeaten and third in the league, would be to expect too much, too quickly.

A very hypothetical outsider

The disappointing 0-0 draw against Saint-Étienne can comfort his analysis. The good draw against Lille and the victory against Nancy should not be hiding major data: “We are starting a new cycle with good players and youngsters. Five teams have got a bigger potential than the rest in France, and we’re not one of them”. After nearly two months alongside the players, he seems to have a clearer view of the 2010-2011 squad’s potential: “We have to be humble. The job will be done if we finish sixth.”“The team is worth about 60 points” he also estimates. Or 15 wins, 15 draws and 8 defeats.

Frédéric Antonetti is not against some enthusiasm, but he remains highly cautious and set ups the many conditions to success. “If the team improves, if Brahimi scores goal after goal, if the striker manage a good partnership, if the players coming in bring a difference, if we remain as solid defensively, why not up our target, but it would be pretentious to expect for more.”

« Working hard is our only solution »

This speech is also the way to call his players to work harder, especially towards the collective recovery work he has been asking for since the season restarted. Against Saint-Étienne was struggling to make the difference against a very defensive team. “We watched the game again, and the players realised they had not always done the right choices. We were facing a problem, a team playing very low, and we could not find the solution.”. The only way out for the coach, more work: “Working hard is our only solution. We can’t listen to all the unwelcomed praise”.

And a good example sits next to him, Yann M’Vila, 20 years old, has been called again in the French national team and extended his contract with Rennes until 2014. “I’m on the good way but you never know how things are going to evolve, the International explains. No one can afford to slacken. » Antonetti hopes more Rennes player will take example on their colleague and his attitude: “There are places to take in the French squad, and if they give their best at every game for the Stade Rennais, they could well profit of them”.