After the conclusion of the 8th round of Ligue 1 last weekend, Rennes has only managed 8 points from 8 matches (2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses), placing them 13th in the league. During a pre-match press conference, head coach Julien Stéphan was questioned by journalists about rumors of his dismissal and potential replacements.
“You know, when I lost a friendly match at the start of preseason, they were already calling for Pioli to replace me, but that’s not surprising. I’m prepared, and I have to seize this opportunity to shut them up and move forward,” Stéphan said.
“I am still focused on the team’s tasks, and I believe we can achieve results. When there are no results and performance doesn’t meet expectations, the coach is always the first to be blamed, and that’s part of the job. I don’t know if the rumors about my dismissal and potential replacements are true, but please respect my work,” Rennes’ manager added.
Previously, media reports suggested that Rennes was considering replacing the 44-year-old French coach with Tudor or Pioli.
