It was 10:45 a.m. when Jorge Sampaoli appeared on the professional training ground at Stade Rennais this Wednesday. Black coat with red and black coat of arms, hat screwed on his head and hands in his pockets, the Argentine coach opened the first quarter of an hour to the press. He will do the same on Thursday and Friday, because he has nothing to hide and he knows how important communication is in football.
READ ALSO. PORTRAIT. Jorge Sampaoli, the new film-loving and very rock'n'roll coach at Stade Rennais
With his three assistants (Diogo Meschine, Pablo Fernandez and Marcos Fernandez) and the rest of the staff in place, he had at his disposal fourteen outfield players and two goalkeepers. Eleven players have joined their selection and will be missing for the next eight days. Were present: Silistrie and Gallon (goalkeepers), Hateboer, Matusiwa, Blas, Santamaria, Jota, Meister, Faye, Assignon, Truffert, Nagida, Cissé and Maboulou.
In bitter cold, with a fresh wind reminding us that winter is approaching, the players performed a toro before embarking on a movement and passing exercise. During the open quarter of an hour, Sampaoli let his deputies lead things, remaining discreet on the edge of the field. Was he more vocal afterward? The coach has work to do to revive a team that has been in great difficulty since the start of the season.
France
