Stade Rennais – Angers / Kalimuendo: “You have to be able to go a little out of the ordinary”
Arnaud Kalimuendo was the player present at the press conference before Rennes – Angers.
Did you get any feedback following your goal celebration in Nantes?
I know that it got people talking on the networks. But otherwise no, apart from my teammates, no. It's a shame, it would be good for everyone to bring home a point from there.
Can you explain why the attack has had difficulty increasing its volume, as the coach wants?
It's never easy. When we see the quality of the players offensively, there is room to do much better. We need to do a lot more in terms of volume, connections between us. This is what we put in place every day. I know that when it starts to take off well, it will work well, and we saw it against Saint-Etienne, I'm not worried about that.
Do you feel that there are no players capable of making a difference at the moment?
It’s a challenge because we have to take our responsibilities. But the matches are not the same every weekend, there are periods when it is more complicated. We must try to make a difference. It's never easy when there is no collective chemistry, or the team is struggling a lot. These are things that we put in place, that we work on. But being able to deliver the team on an individual feat, there is the quality for it, with Amine, Albert, Ludo, myself. We can do it, we have done it in the past. You have to be able to step out of the ordinary a little.
Doesn't that frustrate you? Not being able to differentiate between individuals?
I know this is an area where I need to improve. There are attackers in Europe capable of doing it, and at times you have to be able to do it. There are always a few balloons lying around. Afterwards, I don't necessarily have any frustrations about it. But I know this is something I need to improve on.
How do you feel about playing the role?
I think that in this kind of situation you always need to have a little perspective. It's not an easy situation to enjoy and be liberated. But we each have to take the matches one by one, especially in this kind of situation. Matches in Ligue 1 are not the same. We can face a low block then a team that can play. From a personal point of view, I try to always stay myself, work even harder. It's mainly because I want us to get out of this situation, to be where we need to be.
Can it be electric between you?
No, no more than that. I've had other groups where even when things were going well it was already quite electric. Here it goes. We don't necessarily deserve what happens to us because it's a group with top guys and extremely invested people. And I've known groups with people with big characters. But I know that by continuing on this, by implementing the coach's new way of playing, we will get out of this situation.
Your name circulates every transfer window. Is this perhaps your last match at Roazhon Park on Sunday?
My last match? (smiles) I don’t know. Frankly, I don't think about the future. I take the matches that come. This weekend it's Angers, the following weekend it's Bordeaux. I think that in this kind of situation, when it's complicated like that with the team, we don't think about the future. We try to provide short-term solutions. Because I am part of this team, I myself have my responsibilities in this situation. I am totally focused on what I have to apply already this weekend and then next week in Bordeaux. You have to take a step back, this isn't the first time my name has been around, it's not going to change me any more than that. Last year I had a complicated period in the January transfer window and that didn't stop me from playing. Now, I know that I have the necessary perspective to make a difference.
Shouldn’t this group be more “electric”? Isn't there a bit of rebellion missing?
It's complicated because each group is unique and each person in it is unique. Today, the objectives, maintaining or maintaining Europe, are not what should be driving us today. Everyone needs to be focused on what we have to do when we arrive on the field each weekend. The priority is to win the matches every weekend. We have to know how to detach ourselves from the club's objectives to have less pressure and free ourselves. Because there are abilities in this group. But there need to be more connections, even more freedom. I know we will be able to turn the situation around.
How does Jorge Sampaoli’s desire to play translate?
Much more connections, freedom, joy. When you play up front, you have to be able to combine and take risks. If we don't try anything, we'll end up with nothing. These are philosophies, things that we try to put in place in training. From what I see, I see an improvement. But you have to know how to transcribe it in the match. I don't worry about it. It started against Saint-Etienne. In Nantes, circumstances meant that we went to 10 very quickly. But here I know that we had a very good week, people are concerned and I have no doubts about that.
Do you feel liberated, personally?
I feel good. I know what to expect. I'm starting to have a little more experience because I play a lot of matches. I don't think any one situation can define me. It happens to all attackers to experience bad passes, to not score. You have to know how to stay strong. When I play I feel liberated. I try to be as productive and dangerous as possible. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It's part of a match, chess. You have to know how to accept it too. I have no doubts about that. We have to play, what do we have to fear anyway? We play football, have fun together. This is what we must try to transcribe on the ground. We were always told to have fun. When there are no results, we inevitably turn to other directions, but at the base of everything, football is pleasure. This is what we try to take every weekend, it's not easy, we're not necessarily taking it at the moment, but I know it will turn out, that's for sure.
What do you know about Angers?
It's a team that has a lot of quality players, but I don't know them personally. Players who have experience in Ligue 1. It's not going to be an easy match, against an athletic, robust team, which has technical players capable of making the difference. You'll have to be ready, it won't be easy.
