Auxerre – Stade Rennais / Truffert: “I have a lot more reference points in a four-man system”
Two days before a trip to Auxerre, Adrien Truffert was the player present at a press conference for Stade Rennes.
There was the victory against Le Havre, but whistles. Despite everything, have you gained confidence this week?
The week went pretty well. After a victory the training weeks are always easier. Regarding the whistles, we know it, we are aware. We can understand them, we know that we must do much better. Now, we must not lose confidence because of this because we drew away at Brest, we have just won (against Le Havre), we must keep this dynamic and try to make it happen. persist.
Did the whistles and the absence of clapping surprise you?
I can understand them, we are not here to hide our faces, we know that we must do much better in what we propose. I know the public always supports us but they probably wanted to show us their dissatisfaction, which I can understand. Surprised, yes and no, mixed.
Do you feel that you are no longer producing the show seen in recent years?
We know how to be lucid. We realize, we know that the football we are offering at the moment is perhaps not the football we have been able to offer in recent years. There are times like that. In any case what is certain is that we really work every day to try to be as efficient as possible, to continue to win matches because despite everything that is the most important thing. We are aware that we must do much better.
What made you not thrive in the 3-4-3 that seemed to suit you?
I think it's a question of benchmarks. A lot of people say it, it's true that it can be a system that corresponds to my qualities. But for now it's a system in which I haven't had much chance to evolve, even if as a professional we are obliged to adapt and that's necessarily what I tried to do as much as possible. I have a lot more reference points in a four-person system.
What changes for you?
In a four-man system, I have much more varied positions. I can be interior, sometimes exterior, and generally I have someone above me, an eccentric who can also vary these positions more. And I think I find myself in situations that I personally prefer, more facing the game. Sometimes when we are at 5, I am higher because the system wants that, and I am hit in areas where I have a direct player on me, and sometimes with my back to the game. With four of us I start from further away and I surprise more. But I know that I had to do much better in a 5-man system, I'm not looking for excuses. But I definitely prefer playing with 4.
How is your association with Jota going?
For the moment things are going well. We have to create automatisms, we try to create as many as possible during training. The fact that it goes down quite low allows me to go up and it is these position inversions that can surprise me. Over the course of the match, and with training, we will get to know each other, know our preferences too, that's how we will create combinations.
There is also Mikayil Faye to your right in defense.
It's also going pretty well, he's a good player. Defensively, these are different concepts. At 4, we perhaps have to slide a lot more when the ball is on the opposite side. In terms of coverage we also have to run a lot more since we have one less player on the defensive line. These are different benchmarks.
You had an exit voucher this summer, you have been at the club for 10 years. Do you still want to, or can there be weariness?
No, weariness never. I've been here for 10 years, I trained here, I have a lot of attachment to this club. Whatever happens, I will always want to fight for the colors of Stade Rennes. This summer, it's part of football, part of a career, part of the transfer window. It happened like this. But I really don't want people to doubt my desire for this club, this jersey. I've been here a long time and I'm really not tired. I always want to give so much of myself, and whatever happens I will give my all all the time, because that's how I am.
Were you disappointed that the doors didn't open completely for you?
No, it's part of football, of the transfer window. There are opportunities that come, others that don't. I tried to worry as little as possible and be mentally as well as possible. In football we know that it is important. It's part of a career.
Do you think that explains your complicated start to the season?
I know I fell short of my standards. I am aware of it. Is it because of that, I don't think, it's a whole thing. We had a change of system, a lot of new players. Sometimes you know, there are periods like that when we are less well technically, physically, mentally. I do my best to be as efficient as possible, each time I give my all. There was this change in system where I felt less comfortable. Now that there were 4 of us again like this weekend, I felt much more at ease. There is no reason.
Could the post-Olympic Games have had an influence?
Yes, maybe there was a backlash, but I'm not here to make excuses. I am aware that I should and must do much better. This is what I will try to do.
Is the change in system also a signal for you to be more ambitious?
Maybe we feel more comfortable at 4 and we will have more time in possession, which we surely lacked at 5. Afterwards it does not necessarily depend on the system but on how we run it. Maybe with our qualities we liven it up better as a group of 4.
