« Qualifying for the Stade de France is a step forward in the club's overall project »

Player development, the central project

Sébastien Tambouret (Espoirs): "This season gives us several reasons to be satisfied. The central project is to see our boys develop, and that's a very positive thing. In the N3 category, a large number of youngsters have been able to discover this championship. We're making progress and the dynamics are leading to good results.

William Stanger (U19): "In terms of competition, the championships allow us to develop our young players. The players have made a lot of progress and when you take part in the Gambardella or the Challenge Espoirs, you realise that this choice has paid off. Developing through competition is a real source of satisfaction.

Laurent Viaud (U17): "What's important is the end result, and we're working for the good of the boys. When they're grouped by age group, you can see how they're progressing. The objective is also the first team. The emergence of certain players, notably Djaoui Cissé, Jérémy Jacquet and Kader Meïté recently, is also very encouraging.

The shared red and black touch

Sébastien Tambouret: "Before talking about footballing principles, there's above all what we want to bring them as players and as people. It's everywhere here, our values to defend, the desire to surpass ourselves, the desire to share, this hashtag #ToutDonner. It's this shared approach that we want to see very early on, as soon as they pull on that first Red and Black shirt. They share the same game plans, the same ideas, the same ways of attacking and defending together. This helps the players find their way around when they play with other Rouge et Noir teams.

William Stanger: "The rules and environment are the same for everyone. It saves us time, and the players adapt easily. On the pitch, we want dynamic teams that play forward and press. That's what our project is all about.

Laurent Viaud: "Every time we see a Stade Rennais F.C. Academy team play, we want to see their ability to put the opposition under pressure, to go in search of the ball and to react to losing it. These are weapons we need to rediscover.

Players trained with the Rouge et Noir who have made their mark as professionals, in different positions (Jérémy Jacquet in defence, Djaoui Cissé in midfield, Kader Meïté in attack).

Sébastien Tambouret: "When I arrived here, I immediately noticed that training was at the heart of the project, and that it was very important. In this respect, the club has many references and certainties, supported by the coaches. There are boys who are blossoming and showing themselves, and then it's up to them to prove this policy right. These players who have made the step up to Ligue 1 and are playing regularly validate many of our choices.

William Stanger: "In the different positions, it validates the strategy that we are capable of training all types of players with different specificities. Recently, with the players who have turned professional, we have a typical team that can play in Ligue 1 and even in Europe.

Working together

Laurent Viaud: "First of all, we work together to get the groups into shape at the start of the season. Then when the season starts, we have the opportunity to bring the different groups together on a regular basis. The youngsters can see what they need to do to move up, while those at the top want to show that they're a step ahead. This allows the players to be pulled up and, or, to pull themselves up.

William Stanger: "We get frequent feedback from the matches, which means we can keep a close eye on things and work together to prepare the team line-ups.

The Gambardella and the Challenge Espoirs, different stakes from the championship

Laurent Viaud: "These competitions are very formative, with decisive matches and different stakes. It's also an extra experience, extra emotions, a different kind of preparation against teams you don't play regularly.

Sébastien Tambouret: "These competitions are closer to the reality of the top level. When we start the Challenge Espoirs, with the trip to Monaco, I tell the boys in particular during the chat that they are working to play this type of match as often as possible, against these renowned opponents."