On Friday evening, joint leaders Stade Rennes host Olympique Marseille, fourth, in Ligue 1’s big clash of the week-end. Before the game, the Bretons refuse to be named as favourites or declared title contenders. Explanations.
“What have we done so far?”, Rennes’ vice-captain Romain Danzé askes before the game against OM. “There are twelve games left, two and a half months to go, he argues. We are not in the mind frame of being up there at the end. Within two games (ed.: before Lyon – Rennes), we could be toeing the line. »
The figures are eloquent however. By winning this Friday, Stade Rennes could leave OM seven points behind. The team has won five consecutive games and seven consecutive games at the Route de Lorient. In Ligue 1, they haven’t conceded a home-goal since six games. With 49 points in 26 matches, the Rouge et Noir are managing their best total of the decade.
"We are focusing on the game, this is the best way to succeed, Frédéric Antonetti insists. All games are important, even though some like Friday’s have got a particular taste.” But is there no particular pressure before such an important game? “No”, the manager replies. Pression is always there. Every week, we have to take a brand new look at ourselves”. Is Stade Rennes the favourite this Friday? “No, I don’t think so. One needs to analyse things the right way. The standings are one thing, but Marseille is one of the teams that caused us the most troubles. We replied well (ed.: 0-0 in the first encounter), but they impressed me. »
To Frédéric Antonetti, the difference between the two teams lies in the experience of major games. “They have accomplished players as we have players at the beginning of their career.” This could be the reason behind the prudence on display: The Bretons’ youth. “I repeat it: we need to be able to deal with both success and failure. If you get carried away when you have a lot of success, you get down. If you lose your ability as soon as there is a bad time, you get down the same way.” His players “are force to understand this if they aim to live a great career”.
"We shall not start getting carried away and have our heads in the clouds. We should focus on our job, which is playing football on the pitch”, Romain Danzé warns, also underlining the “few experienced players” in the team.
Jean- Armel Kana-Biyik, 21 years old, shares this view: « Marseille remain the favourites », « We play matches one after the other ». For the French-Cameroonese, a draw would already be “a good point taken”. The team will do its best to remain on top until the end: “If we can do it, we won’t think twice, but this isn’t our objective at this moment, he finishes. Our aim is to be in the top five. We will consider other options later.”
Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes
- Photo : www.rennes.lemensuel.com
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