“You need offensive players who help you win matches and I don’t see any today in Rennes,” says Jorge Sampaoli

Jorge Sampaoli wants to shake up Stade Rennais. Present at a press conference this Thursday, two days before the reception of Saint-Étienne at Roazhon Park (Saturday 5 p.m.), the new Rennes coach confronted his players with their responsibilities, while the club occupies a worrying 15th place in the League 1 after 12 contested days.

«According to my analysis made before arriving, I have players with great abilities, but some have not yet shown. Some players do not measure up to my analysisregretted the Argentine coach, in comments reported by Stade Rennais Online. It may have to do with the context, the psychological situation. What I want are players capable of rebelling, giving absolutely everything against Saint-Étienne. I want the image of the club to change, to generate something among the public, some emotion.”

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Far from their European ambitions at the start of the season, the Rouge et Noir welcome this weekend the Verts (13th), a direct competitor at the bottom of the table. Because yes, in Rennes, the objective of “maintaining in Ligue 1” no longer seems taboo. “Rennes was not used to this position. We are going to face teams who are used to it and know how to play this type of match, was wary of Jorge Sampaoli, beaten in Lille (0-1) last Sunday for his first. We must face this with responsibility and aggressiveness, working in continuity. It's a psychological struggle. We are going to play against Saint-Étienne who knows how to play this kind of match.»

For there to be leadership, I have to find these players who are unbalancing

Jorge Sampaoli

Open to dialogue in front of journalists, the former coach of Olympique de Marseille then shed light on his playing principles. Not without, once again, shaking up his players. “I talk about control because if we play in a disorganized way against Saint-Étienne, we will lose. To play anarchically, you need offensive players who help you win matches. And I don't see any today in Rennes. launched the Argentinian before mentioning the case of Amine Gouiri, expected to be a key element in Rennes but in great difficulty for several weeks.

«I hope Gouiri can be that player. But today it is not. One day, it could be Gouiri. No doubt for multiple factors that I have not yet identified. With Marseille, I had suffered enormously here (in May 2022, OM Sampaoli lost 2-0 in Brittany). Rennes was fast with and without the ball. Rennes has lost that. For there to be leadership, I have to find these players who are unbalancing.” The messages got through. Positive response, or not, from Stade Rennais on the pitch on Saturday in front of its audience at Roazhon Park.

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