2023-11-20 18:18:39
His first words were expected. This Monday, the day after his appointment as coach of Rennes – as announced by Le Parisien -, replacing Bruno Genesio, Julien Stéphan appeared in front of the press, to explain the reasons for his return to the club. And what were his goals.
If he admitted to having “already a small idea of how (Rennes) could evolve”, the coach, who is committed until the end of the season, clearly stated that there was “no revolution to wait for.”
“I’m coming out of ten months of inactivity and when a coach comes out of ten months of inactivity, he’s fresh, he’s available, he’s determined, he’s motivated and that’s all that drives me today” , assured Stéphan, 43, free since the end of his contrasting experience in Strasbourg, at the beginning of 2023.
???? Discover Julien Stéphan’s presentation to the press in full ⤵️
— Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) November 20, 2023
The coach returns to a club where he spent nine years, including more than two years at the head of the first team (between 2018 and 2021), which he took to a title in the Coupe de France and participation in the Champions League.
He recovers a sluggish Rennes in the championship – 13th in Ligue 1, with a point ahead of the play-off place -, but on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. “Initially, (the objective will be) to reverse the curve of results, try to restore everyone’s confidence, improve the situation and regain consistency,” he explained.
Florian Maurice “is heading more towards a departure”, according to his president
The president, Olivier Cloarec, returned to the conditions of Bruno Genesio’s departure, stressing that “it was not the position of the club at the base, clearly”, but a wish of the technician. “There was a form of attrition,” explained the manager. “He had the honesty to say that sufficient energy was needed (to redress the situation) and I think the batteries were not sufficiently charged.”
The manager also commented on the notable absence of Florian Maurice, the club’s sports director, very close to Genesio. “I’m not going to speak for Florian. If he is not present at the press conference today, that perhaps means that he is heading towards leaving,” admitted Olivier Cloarec. “However, we know that, in football, we are never immune to upheavals,” he added.
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