Antonetti : “A crucial week”
After the elimination of Rennes in Le Mans, Frédéric Antonetti has “turned the page”. His objective is to do well in the next three weeks before a two weeks rest. Including a difficult trip to Toulouse this Sunday.
Four days after the elimination in Le Mans, Stade Rennes will travel to Toulouse on Sunday to face the sixth in Ligue 1. No time to look back at the defeat. “I’ve turned the page, but we are still annoyed with this game in Le Mans”, Frédéric Antonetti assured on Friday morning. “Even though we were bad, we should have gone through. We had chances to score and we were unlucky”, he continued.
A Team
On Sunday, Stade Rennes will play its twentieth game of the season. The fourth since October 16th, before facing Glasgow on Thursday and Valenciennes on the following Sunday. “In my head, I had planned less rotation during this last three games”, the Rennes manager explains. “I think we have a crucial week coming with this game in Toulouse, the following in Celtic were we will have to be good, and the hosting of Valenciennes. There will be more this season, but we will have to do our best”.
"Hang on with the front of the pack"
In Ligue 1, Stade Renes is sitting on two consecutive victories and remains in the race for the podium. “As the manager says, the league is our bread and butter”, says Romain Danzé, who is doubtful for Sunday. “We are following the pace of the leading teams even though they are setting a very high pace. The aim is to hang on for as long as we can”. In Toulouse, Stade Rennes could leave a potential contender for Europe five points clear, even though their “midfield is as good as it gets”, according to the Breton defender. The aim, according to him, is to “build on the dynamic”. The stake will be the same for the hosting of Valenciennes , before 13 days of international break.
Victory required in Scotland
This week will also be crucial in order to remain in the race for the Europa League. According to Romain Danzé, « there is no room for error. We imperatively need to win in Glasgow in order to hope for something”. In case things were not going ther way, the two games against Udinese (30/11) and Atlético (15/12) would be anecdotal compared to the six Ligue 1 games to be played until Christmas.
Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes
- Photo : www.rennes.lemensuel.com