Stade Rennes don’t want to “waste it all”

"Our fate remains in our hands. After nine games without winning, it’s pretty incredible!” On Sunday, Frédéric Antonetti’s Stade Rennes will go and defend their fifth place at à Geoffroy-Guichard. Against them, the eighth in the standings, which the “Rouge et Noir” can brush off in the race for Europe. As he did after the draw against Caen, the Rennes manager insisted, during the press conference this Friday, on the “general mobilisation” within the club: “it’s the first time since I am the club that I see such a mobilisation. There is a general understanding. Why now, and not before? I don’t know. Maybe an envy not to waste it all. I hope it will go on over the last three games. »

"In a club, everyone has got a little something to bring in"

This reaction seems to be shared with everyone since, according to Frédéric Antonetti, “if we don’t finish fifth, it will be a complete waste”. As for the players, they received the order, as soon as Sunday evening, not to talk to the media. Frédéric Antonetti explains: “When they come up, they say: “we are going to react, we are going to react” but it never happens. Stop talking and start moving on! And they moved on, even though it didn’t work out and Caen disturbed us for twenty minutes.”

In the dressing room, key players such as Kader Mangane or Nicolas Douchez have, according to him, taken their responsibilities. “Ten players got their Ligue 1 start, he reminds. Jérôme Leroy had a word about it, when you see you get such a chance and we’re about to waste it all, there is a reaction to have.” The mobilisation went beyond the dressing room’s walls. “In a club, everyone has got a little something to bring in”, the manager justifies. Facing the “danger”, he observed this realisation amongst “all those who work around: the intendants, the medical staff…”. An example? “The treatment of Kader Mangane”, who played on Wednesday even though he got injured on Sunday. “Maybe he wouldn’t have played two months ago. It’s a sign. It’s come to a point where everyone gives it all. »

"We never think about how quiet it is here! "

For the Rennes manager, « This attitude should be there permanently » to obtain better results. “It’s a very, very good club which would need a bit more passion, maybe, or at some point to have someone saying it’s time to shake it all off. We never say anything loud here, it’s quiet! We need to say the things, unsaid things aren’t bringing anyone forwards. Rennes remains a good club in the second hat. In order to grow, we need to be able to shake it. Only actions are bringing a team forwards.”
Before Saint- Étienne, Frédéric Antonetti reckons, however, that “an away draw is always a good result”, because of the numerous injuries. Because, he finishes, “we’ve had enough problems to last us ten years!”

Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes

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