Presented to the press on Monday, Julien Stéphan, appointed coach of Rennes to replace Bruno Genesio, assured that there would be “no revolution” at the club, even if sports director Florian Maurice could also leave him soon. “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.
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 Stade Rennais that is poorly engaged in the championship (13th in Ligue 1), with only one point ahead of the play-off place, but on the other hand well on its way to qualifying for the round of 16 of the Europa League.
“Initially, (the objective will be) to reverse the curve of results, to try to restore the confidence of everyone, to improve the situation and to regain consistency,” he said. he detailed. If he admitted to having “already a small idea of how his team could evolve”, the coach, who is committed until the end of the season, clearly stated that there was “no revolution to wait “.
Florian Maurice could also leave the club
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 was honest enough to say that sufficient energy was needed (to redress the situation) and I think that 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.