“He’s a legend”, Sampaoli raves with Mandanda despite their history at OM

Stade Rennais hopes to relaunch on Sunday against Lille during the 12th day of Ligue 1. Successor to Julien Stéphan on the Breton bench, Jorge Sampaoli confirmed Steve Mandanda in his role as captain despite their complicated relationship at Olympique de Marseille and the departure of the guard towards Brittany.

With only one victory in the last five championship matches, Rennes is experiencing a real crisis of results. Julien Stéphan sidelined, the fiery Jorge Sampaoli arrived in Brittany to relaunch the team. But the appointment of the technician does not constitute – on paper – necessarily good news for Steve Mandanda whom the Argentinian had pushed towards leaving Marseille in 2022. But according to the coach of the Breton club, the veteran retains his confidence.

“Regarding the captain, I especially want him to represent the team. For me, it's not even my role to choose the captain. It's up to the players to choose the captain,” insisted Jorge Sampaoli about the captaincy of the 39-year-old goalkeeper. “Regarding the captain, his role is above all to convey to me the feeling of the team, the perception of the team.”

“He’s a legend.”

Indisputable holder and captain of OM, Steve Mandanda could not resist the Sampaoli tornado. Refugee in Rennes since the summer of 2022, the 2018 world champion found a smile there for more than two seasons.

“Regarding Steve, he’s someone I know very well,” continued the Argentine coach two days before his first match with Rennes against Lille. “He's a legend. I think he's a good captain and he sure will be.”

Sampaoli explains what he wants to change among Rennes goalkeepers

Before the trip to the north for the duel against the Mastiffs on the 12th day of Ligue 1, Jorge Sampaoli also had nice compliments for Steve Mandanda, eleven-time starter this season.

“Steve is a courageous goalkeeper, who has a good kicking game and who understands the game very well,” said the South American technician. Before revealing what he expected of him on the pitch: “Little by little we will instill these principles (goalkeeper-libero). In our conception of the game, the idea of ​​having a high goalkeeper is quite important. Particularly for generate numerical superiorities.”

Replaced at the break by Gauthier Gallon during the defeat against Toulouse (0-2) in the last match, Steve Mandanda was impaired by a crutch. But the break linked to the international break allowed the 2018 world champion to recover well.