Rennes - Lyon : key quotes from press conference

Regarder

To play this video, you must accept Youtube cookies

I accept

Habib Beye

The squad for Lyon

"Mahdi (Camara) is the only player missing, as he is still serving his suspension. Kader (Meïté) resumed full training this morning, Jérémy (Jacquet) and Djaoui (Cissé) returned at the start of the week after a week out, and all three are 100% fit. It's good to have all the players available. "

The arrival of Breel Embolo

"He brings us all his experience, gained at the highest level, both with the national team and in clubs. He's a leader, a self-sacrificing player, decisive. I've already seen him getting involved and sharing with his new teammates. "

The transfer window

‘I'm very satisfied with the transfer window and happy with the squad, which is both high-quality and small enough to give young players a chance. Our recruitment has been successful, we have the team we wanted, and that's a good thing for the future. The pressure is now on me; my role is to help the team progress.’

Control, intensity, pace

"I'm looking for efficiency. We have players who are capable of making a difference individually, but above all, the team as a whole must be strong. I'm thinking in particular of Ludovic Blas' goal against Marseille. We need to maintain our intensity, quality and pace. Against Angers, for example, too many players were under pressure, and we can't be that kind of team. But it's not all bad. Lyon will be a different story, and we'll have to be better. If we want to be in control, we need to be impactful in possession, and that control needs to be threatening to the opposition. Every attack counts, as does every possession."

The goal conceded in Angers

"I expect more leadership from the back line, and I had the opportunity to discuss this with the three who started in Angers: Anthony, Jérémy and Lilian. I need them to communicate. I moved Jérémy back into the centre, he needs to take on more responsibility in leading the team. We mustn't forget that he's a player born in 2005! He'll develop all that to become the leader of the defence."

Mahdi Camara's suspension

"We have to manage his positive frustration. Mahdi arrived with a lot of ambition and has been performing very well in training. On the pitch, he will bring us his qualities, those of a box-to-box player, capable of making an impact and gaining ground. He's almost like a caged lion waiting for his moment, and it will come against Nantes. "

The announcement of Steve Mandanda's retirement from sport

"I didn't have the opportunity to do so, and I wanted to emphasise how proud I am to have been Steve's last coach. I want to pay tribute to his career, the immense player he was and whom I had the privilege of coaching. He was a very important player for Stade Rennais F.C., I wanted him to hear that and I wish him all the best. I know he's going to take his CDES, maybe we'll meet again one day (smile)."