In an interview with Ouest-France, Arnaud Pouille, president of Stade Rennais, teases his players after the elimination at Troyes in the Coupe de France at the heart of a “crappy” season. He defends his sports director but also Jorge Sampaoli, ensuring that he does not want to slam the door.
Arnaud Pouille had a lot to say. The president of Stade Rennais, appointed on October 4 to replace Olivier Cloarec, sounded the alarm in a long interview in Ouest-France, this Friday, two days after the pitiful elimination (1-0) in the Cup from France to Troyes, resident of Ligue 2. A new disappointment at the heart of a “crappy” season, in his words where Rennes is in 14th place in Ligue 1 with only one point ahead of Saint-Etienne, dam operator. He first targets the players with whom he spoke on Thursday. Some of them were also invited to train in a loft.
“We are going to concentrate the effort on those who want to carry out the project, not on those who have nothing to do with the history of the club,” he says.
“We need people who are invested, and unfortunately, we have noticed that some are less invested than others. We can no longer focus on people who don't care whether they are there or elsewhere. Then, I reminded them that in all contracts, which are rather well done here, there is an ethics bonus associated with their salaries, and ethics is linked to respect for the club and the jersey. I have not seen them for twelve matches. don't say that everything is to be thrown away, I think that a structure had returned, but we must go beyond and do much more.”
“Stop believing it’s Club Med!”
He confirms that several elements of the squad will be out of the group for the Brest reception on Saturday (7 p.m., 18th day of L1). “But they could potentially be reinstated,” he says. “If the players have not understood that there is a state of emergency, they must understand it quickly. This means being on time, respecting the club's obligations. There are rights, but also a lot of homework. We have to quickly reconnect the wires and stop believing that it's Club Med!”
-Arnaud Pouille ensures that he still has the support of shareholders and defends his sporting director, Frederic Massara, who was widely criticized after the numerous recruitment failures last summer. “Frederic does not shy away from his responsibilities,” he explains. “No one defends the indefensible. I've already said it and I'll say it again: he was caught by a statistically exceptional wave of departures last summer, but that's not why he doesn't take responsibility his share of responsibilities on a certain number of subjects We discuss them very freely between us.
While rumors of the Franco-Italian's departure are swirling, Pouille assures that he is still involved in the project. Especially since the club promises to still be active in the winter match. “We must integrate psychological profiles who like to fight, because that is our reality. And not add error to error. (…) Yes, there are identified profiles, ongoing discussions, clubs with which we discuss but who also have their own constraints to be able to release their players at the right time (…) We are in an emergency situation, but that is not a reason to do anything.”
The former president of Lens finally concludes with the fact that Jorge Sampaoli, appointed to the Rennes bench on November 11 to replace Julien Stéphan, does not plan to leave. “He certainly didn't expect the situation to be so complicated, even if he had done his analysis of the team before arriving,” he explains. “Jorge is someone who deeply hates defeat. After each defeat, he is discomfited. But this morning (Thursday), when we returned to Rennes, he left with crazy energy. I was asked the question several times : 'be careful, he can leave, he can slam the door!' But no, he's combative.”
Nicolas Couet Journalist RMC Sport
