M’Vila & Dalmat, the key men at midfield

Since the beginning of the season, Yann M’Vila, 20, and Stéphane Dalmat, 31, have become essential in Frédéric Antonetti’s tactics. The first named played 14 games, the second 15. At the Vélodrome, both of them satisfied their manager, with Tongo Doumbia and Georges Mandjeck taking turns to complete the midfield. “With the kind of midfield we saw in the second half, we are solid, Frédéric Antonetti guarantees. “Last year, sometimes, our midfield tended to lose its focus and we exploded, as we did against Lyon and Marseille.”

Dalmat, “great professiona” and the “dark forces”

Frédéric Antonetti wasn’t satisfied to read in the press, on Wednesday, that Marseille’s Abriel was likely to arrive in Rennes to replace Stéphane Dalmat. Nobody attacks one of his key-players. “Reading this, it drives me mad”, he vituperates. There is, according to him, in the “first circles” around the club, “dark forces that spill oil over the fire. The will recognise themselves easily.” And he continues: “To report that the club is looking at Abriel because Dalmat doesn’t do the job, this is dark forces trying to harm us, and it isn’t true!” Antonetti’s defence of the former Inter midfielder reveals by all means how much importance he gives to Dalmat in his squad.

Yann M’Vila, turning towards the attack

The other key man at midfield is Yann M’Vila who, according to Frédéric Antonetti, “could play in the European top 4”. He is having more and more importance in Rennes’style of play. More a creative than a holding midfielder in the early stages of the Marseille game, he delivered an inch-perfect pass for Kembo after three minutes, which led to Kembo’s missed penalty kick. “I need to repeat this match after match, it will open doors for me on the attacking side” the French international comments, who admits a return to form since his game with France in Wembley. “Yesterday (ed.: Wednesday), he brought an interesting attacking contribution, he needs to go on”, Frédéric Antonetti judges. Yann M’Vila is a sure bet: « He’s never falling very low, and can reach incredible heights. »

A great career is opening to him on one condition, according to his manager: “Where he needs to be very careful is in his life (…) Because is 20, and he is sent private jets to fly to London and feature in a Nike commercial, because he receive solicitations from every direction, because at some times, he will be seen as a really milkable cash cow by some.”

Against Monaco tomorrow, Stade Rennes will need to build on their draw in Marseille. With a reduced squad, both players will have a vital role to lead a squad that, according to Frédéric Antonetti, "can’t play a game on the back foot. "

Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes

- Photo : www.rennes.lemensuel.com