‘Shut some mouths and move forward’ – Julien Stéphan wants to silence Rennes critics | OneFootball

Julien Stéphan has come under increasing pressure as Stade Rennais’s manager in the last few weeks, and rumours have persisted that his future at Rennes hangs in the balance.

Poor results have plagued Stéphan and the club have only won twice in Ligue 1 this season and only once in the last seven games (with that victory coming against bottom-placed Montpellier HSC). There have been reports that Les Rouge et Noirs have been looking at replacements for a manager who only signed a contract extension at the club in March.

Igor Tudor who has been without a job since his Lazio stay came to an abrupt end earlier this year has been linked with the role. However, Stéphan has remained defiant in the face of these links with other managers and calls from the supporters to resign.

The manager stated in his press conference today, “We lost a friendly during preseason against EA Guingamp. The next day, they [reporters] said Stefano Pioli was going to replace me. From that loss, it showed me the framework and narrative at that time. But it was not a surprise. I had prepared for it and in the end it continues.”

Stéphan added that he would use it as fuel, “I have to seize it as an opportunity to, excuse the expression, shut some mouths and continue forward.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland