Antonetti “in the unknown” before Lorient

As he prepares for a new series of games (seven in twenty days), Frédéric Antonetti regrets the accumulation of difficulties. As September went, the large squad has reduced. Despite fifteen games without playing, Stade Rennes is yet to recover all its forces. “We are a bit in the unknown, the manager underlined in the press conference before Sunday’s derby against Lorient. At the moment I talk to you, the squad is really diminished.”

Defence and midfield are all over the place

First there are the suspended players, Julien Féret, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik and Chris Mavinga. These absences forced him to reorganise both the attack and defence lines. Without Julien Féret, Stade Rennes is left without a playmaker. The whole midfield will need reorganisation, with either a playmaker or two centre midfielders to cover for his absence. Without two of its backs, the defence will be once again “experimental”. Kader Mangane, injured in Udine, should be returning and start at centre-back alongside Kévin Théophile-Catherine. Twenty years old Yassine Jebbour could start at left back without having played a professional game so far this season. Not an ideal scenario for a team having the 16th defence in Ligue 1 and facing a recurring issue identified by Frédéric Antonetti: “We can’t protect a result after scoring”.

M’Vila overtired

As for the injuries, Razak Boukari is yet to completely recover of his shoulder injury. John Boye, suffering with an ankle injury is also out. This Friday, French international Yann M’Vila missed training. “he is ill, and pays the price for his game with the French national team”, Frédéric Antonetti explained. The manager thinks his player is “overtired”, unsure whether M’Vila will be able to play on Sunday.

Brahimi and Hadji doubtful

Yacine Brahimi and Youssouf Hadji are not sure to be on the match sheet either. The former, injured to his fibula since August 4th has been training this week. “He is still training with apprehensions” according to his manager. The latter is suffering with psoas pain. “Very doubtful” according to Frédéric Antonetti, the former Nancy player reckons that he could be fit to play. All these interrogations are unwelcome when the “Rouge et Noir” haven’t managed to win at the Route de Lorient since August 28th and a victory over Caen. To manage it, they indeed need to be “more efficient, more clinical in front of the goal”, according to the Moroccan striker, “manage to score the second goal and kill the game”, according to his manager.

Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes

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