Jorge Sampaoli
The squad
« The squad is complete apart from Amine Gouiri, who hasn't fully recovered (editor's note: he picked up a knee injury against Angers). We'll make a decision at the last minute. Henrik Meister is also ill. »
New year, new expectations?
« A new year inevitably brings new hopes. We hope to bring joy to the fans, but also to ourselves, and that we will improve. »
The arrival of Seko Fofana
« He'll be in the squad for the trip. I expect him to bring us energy, aggression, strength, leadership and competitiveness. I think he can help us a lot in areas where we've been lacking until now. His arrival is a positive signal, both for me as a coach and for the fans. The club wants to improve the quality of the squad, so that it is capable of competing with the top teams. With this kind of arrival, Stade Rennais is showing that it wants to aim higher.
He's only just arrived and doesn't yet know our style of play, but if we need him, we could call on him tomorrow. »
The impact of the mercato on the competition
« Whether here or elsewhere, January is always tricky. Stade Rennais has had a complicated six months and this is a time of year that can generate instability. Despite the context, the most important thing is that the situation is resolved as quickly as possible, so that this period doesn't contaminate the psychological aspect of the players. »
Outdoor difficulties
« January will be a complicated month. What I'd like to see is the team taking more risks and getting to grips with the style of play we're offering them. Beyond the result, what interests me is giving the team the keys so that they can get closer to the style of play that will enable us to win. »
A tough start to the year
« The month of January will be crucial in determining the team's ambitions. We have some important fixtures against Marseille, Brest and Monaco, as well as the Coupe de France. If we don't come out on top in January, we run the risk of playing in the bottom half of the table. »
Nice
« Nice are unbeaten at home, so this is bound to be a big challenge. They put a lot of pressure on their opponents. It's going to be a very demanding match and we'll need to be very focused. We have to be prepared for their level of aggression. They're a team that attacks in numbers, but it can be messy at times. We need to take advantage of that to take control and minimise their strengths. »
Azor Matusiwa
Seko Fofana, new Rennes midfielder
« First of all, happy New Year to everyone. I've played against him a few times and he's a very good player. I think it's good for the team because he's experienced. »
The week off
« We had time to enjoy our family, which was good for the whole team. »
Analysis of the situation
« We've had better results since the new coach took over, and now we need to build on that. We're back to basics, we're playing better with and without the ball, we're more compact. It's given us confidence, something we were lacking. In the goals we scored against Bordeaux, we saw that there was more connection between us. But these are things we need to have right from the start of the game, that's the objective. »
The trip to Nice
« We're still struggling away from home, but we're working on that. Nice are a very strong team and we know how they play. Now it's up to us to show that we can make a difference away from home. It's going to be a tough game for us, but also for Nice. The team that wants it the most will win. »
His personal feelings
« I'm feeling better, I needed to adapt. When I arrived, we had a lot of matches, so we didn't have much training. It's all clear to me now, I'm playing in complete freedom. I'm playing one match after another and I can feel the confidence around me. »
Franck Haise, coach of OGC Nice
« This break has been good for everyone. We've made some small changes to the sessions. The players also have their share of responsibility for being the best they can be. Dante is a good example. We were expecting him to play next week but he's really stepped up his game. What I'm hoping for is to have as many players as possible so that we can make choices. The important thing is to get back to 2025 with what has been our strength at home, play well and be solid again. It's obviously a very important match against Rennes because they're a contender for the European places. »
Matchday 16 Ligue 1 McDonald's
OGC Nice / Stade Rennais F.C.
Friday 3 January 2025 - 9.00 pm CET
Allianz Riviera
