Julien Stéphan: "We'll need to be in action".

Coach, the mission is clear for your players.
They did the job by getting out of the group stage. We have a lot of respect for this Villarreal team, which is made up of very experienced players. In this kind of game, that counts for a lot. They have five or six players who won the Europa League final two years ago who could potentially be on the pitch this Thursday. Apart from the defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend, they're on a good run of form. It will be a different team to the first leg.

How are you preparing your players for this?
If we get a positive result, we'll qualify directly for the last 16 of the European Cup. This has only happened once in the history of Stade Rennais F.C., and the players have the chance to go down in the club's history. It's a challenge we have to rise to, and one that should sublimate the players. But we're not going to do just anything because we'll have to be able to control our emotions. We'll be pushed by our fans. We have to find the right balance between motivation, ambition and emotional control.

A draw would make Stade Rennais F.C. very happy...
First of all, we mustn't go into the match content with a draw. That's the worst thing to do. During the course of the match, that might be something to consider, like at the end of the game. But first of all, we have to put all that aside.

Can your experience in 2019 make the difference in this type of match?
It's difficult to compare eras. What I've learned from personal experience is that you have to make the most of the moment and play your heart out, with no regrets, and above all commit yourself fully to the match from the very first second. At the moment, we're more of a reaction team. We need to be in action. These are rare moments in a career, and we have to make the most of them. We need to approach it with appetite and ambition.

A favourable result could help restore confidence ahead of the next two league games...
I have a group of players who work very hard, who are very aware of the situation and who are therefore very affected. They're committed and very professional, and they work very hard. It's true that there's a lack of confidence. We have to take refuge in our work, talk a lot and remain very open during this period.