Jorge

“We are going to proceed to work exhausting with the identical requirements that we imposed on ourselves this night,” mentioned Stade Rennais head coach Jorge Sampaoli following Saturday’s 3-2 loss to OGC Good. Les Rouges et Noirs’ newest defeat leaves the membership in thirteenth and solely two factors above the relegation playoff spot. 

Outcomes have but to drastically enhance because the Argentine was appointed following the sacking of his predecessor, Julien Stéphan. Sampaoli has overseen two league victories and three losses and has continued the membership’s struggles on the street. Rennes are but to safe a win away from residence with the Allianz Riviera changing into the most recent backdrop to a disappointing journey. 

Pricey errors from the goalkeeper Steve Mandanda would show to be the main target of the match, and there was maybe no worse time for the previous Olympique de Marseille man to commit these errors when the membership have been closely linked with a alternative within the form of France no.2 Brice Samba. 

Mandanda’s errors in focus

Mandanda was crushed far too simply for the opener by Evann Guessand, nevertheless it was the second purpose which felt just like the nail within the coffin for the previous France worldwide. The 39-year-old was chased down by Gaëtan Laborde and appeared to move down the center to beat the press. Nonetheless, his move was weak and fell into Good’s entice as Sofiane Diop leapt from his task to intercept the weak ball and slot residence. 

Sampaoli blamed the switch rumours for the shaky efficiency from his man between the posts, as he advised the press following the sport “He’s a really skilled goalkeeper, nevertheless it nonetheless impacts him as a human being.” The Argentine has been extremely supportive of Mandanda since arriving close to the beginning of November, nonetheless, that hasn’t distracted from the sense that the writing is on the partitions for the veteran keeper. 

It could actually hardly be ignored that Mandanda’s keep at Marseille was dropped at an finish following the arrival of Sampaoli. The document look holder for Les Phocéens was phased out below the pinnacle coach in favour of Pau López within the 2021/22 season. Largely as a result of Mandnada was ill-suited to a recreation plan which put emphasis on constructing out from the again. 

Modifications wanted at Rennes?

The Frenchman has not improved that side of his recreation with age and nonetheless seems to be uncomfortable when requested to play with the ball at his ft. And but, this is among the central elements with which Sampaoli likes his groups to play and due to this fact factors to the broader points at hand for Rennes as we enter 2025. 

There have been flashes of the dynamic and fluid soccer that now we have come to anticipate from Sampaoli throughout his aspect’s two victories over Angers SCO (2-0) and AS Saint-Étienne (5-0). Nonetheless, the squad don’t but really feel like a Sampaoli group and the pinnacle coach has made it explicitly clear that he expects some important reinforcements through the winter switch window. 

Alongside the arrival of Seko Fofana (who made his debut through the second half towards Good), Rennes will doubtless goal the addition of two or three different gamers to assist bolster the underperforming squad. There may be the sense that higher performances ought to come from Rennes within the latter half of the season, however the fear is that if the enhancements don’t come fast then any hope of escaping the underside half of the desk will slip away. 

This week’s Ligue 1 subplots

Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco flew to Qatar to contest the Trophées des Champions ultimate. Les Parisiens would run out slender winners as Ousmané Dembélé scored the one purpose of the sport in damage time. See the total match report . 

PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 1-0 Monaco: Ousmane Dembélé injury-time winner sees PSG win Trophéé des Champions.

🇨🇭 Philipp Köhn, 8🇫🇷 Ousmane Dembélé, 5🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi, 7

Marseille kickstarted the brand new yr by recording their second residence victory of the season. Roberto De Zerbi’s aspect put 5 previous a hapless Le Havre AC to take care of some stress on PSG’s lead on the high. Learn the total match report . 

PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 5-1 Le Havre: 5-star Olympiens kick-off 2025 in type.

🇫🇷 Neal Maupay, 6🇫🇷 Quentin Merlin, 7🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Mason Greenwood, 6

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