A soporific style of play, few goals scored. Despite their fourth position, Stade Rennes fails to create any enthusiasm. Why? How to make things better? Frédéric Antonetti and Jérôme Leroy bring a few possible answers.
The 2010-2011 Stade Rennais is a paradoxal team. The Bretons have built an impressive defensive fortress. With eleven goals conceded, Stade Rennes has got the third best defence in the five main European leagues, with only Borussia Dortmund and Barcelone showing more hermetic. The team has done better than Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, who have all conceded 12 goals since the opening of their domestic league. Upfront however, Stade Rennes has only scored 17 goals in as many games. And in Bordeaux, the attacking play was judged as “bad”, by Frédéric Antonetti himself.
Jérôme Leroy, 36 years old since last month, has got an explanation: « We really tried to work on what was wrong last year, when we conceded too many goals. It’s true, we wanted to sort an issue, our defence, we gave it so much attention that we forgot about the attacking play. It’s quite normal somehow.”
Answering the criticism, the manager regrets that "people don’t pay enough attention to the circumstances”. “Upfront, we’ve played half a season with only three forwards, one of them had never played in the first division (Ed.: Abdoul Camara) And another one was mainly used as a substitute (Ed.: Jirès Kembo), Frédéric Antonetti enumerates. It is difficult with the ambition we have, it would not be if we were tenth or eleventh.” He also regrets to be left without Sylvain Marveaux, « the man in charge of our attacking play”, in his opinion, and one of the long term injured key players, like Apam, Tettey and Lemoine.
"What we’re lacking a bit this year, is the culture of sacrifice, of committing completely on the attacking front, Jérôme Leroy also observes. It lacks of runs, calls for the ball. Some of the forwards think that calling for the ball six times for nothing is useless.” So everybody gathers in a tight space, and nearly walk on each other’s feet. “Our forwards like to get the ball to their feet. But if we don’t stretch the lines, Stéphane Dalmat won’t get any ground to bring all his impact, and he needs that space. It’s our task to give him some comfort on that level” According to the midfielder, who could start the game against Valenciennes on Saturday, there is also a need for more “consistency in the play”
"I know that during the second half of the championship, and even for the remaining two games, we will have to be much better in the attacking play, Frédéric Antonetti continues. How to correct it? By bringing in new players, I hope in January, with injured players returning, and with young players improving.”
Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes
- Photo : www.rennes.lemensuel.com
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