MONCHI: 'RENNES WILL WANT TO GO OUT ON A HIGH'

08/12/2020

Our Director of Football admitted the team having already qualified for the next round gives them 'a bit of margin to relax but not too much'

As is tradition before an away European game, Monchi attended the media at Sevilla FC's hotel in Rennes. The Director of Football acknowledged there is less nerves within the group today: 'I'd be lying if I said there's no difference, we've already qualified. That gives you a bit of margin to relax but not too much as it is still a competitive game and we want to win it, for various reasons. Not least to end the negative run we've had of two consecutive defeats, to help us keep growing as a team and also there are economic benefits to winning. I'm not as nervous as in other moments but we are fully focussed - it's a Champions League game.'

Monchi sees that motivation within the dressing room: 'The players showed their commitment in training yesterday, it's always like that with a Champions League game. There isn't too much at stake today in terms of qualification but our players will be motivated regardless and will give their best.' He also spoke about what qualification means for the team: 'It means we are growing as a Club. This is a tough competition and there are some top teams that have still not qualified. It's another step in our progression. We need to realise that when we give it our all we can achieve whatever we want.'

Monchi recognised Rennes don't come into the game in their best form: 'Ligue 1 is a very competitive league when you take out PSG, who aren't having their best year actually. There are eight or nine teams who can all be fighting for second place. Rennes had a great season last year and they had a good start to this one, they've just been in a bit of bad form recently. For me, they have a more complete squad than last year. Tonight will be their last game in the Champions League and they will want to go out on a high.'

'Tonight will be their last game in the Champions League and they will want to go out on a high.'

Monchi is no stranger to the French league: 'To tell you the truth, and I'm not sure I've mentioned this before, but I initially fell in love with the French market as I could speak French. It was obviously easier for me to negotiate with the clubs than English ones for example, given I couldn't speak English. This is 2002, 2003 we're talking about. Then I realised it was a league with some characteristics that made it easier for the players to adapt to Spain. If there's youth academies that produce great players, it's the French ones. It is also a more realistic league for us in terms of transfer prices and wages. All of these factors come together.'

Unlike the first match, Monchi thinks that the French team will look to control the ball more this time out: 'I don't think there'll be a clear team on top tonight. Given they have nothing to lose, they'll have an extra freedom and it'll be an intriguing game. They held out well in Seville and they've got Nzonzi and Camavinga back. They'll control the ball better and we'll have to be ready to win it off them.'

'They'll have more freedom than they did in Seville and we'll have to win the ball off them'

Our Director of Football spoke about Jesús Navas' absence: 'There's no problem with Jesús. He has to rest and we're managing the squad. We're going to need him a lot this season and we need to manage him, like we need to do with Acuña, Idrissi and the others players to come back. We need him in the best shape possible. He'll not be there tonight but I'm sure we'll have him at 100% soon.' Discussing alternatives to Navas, Monchi mentioned Idrissi: 'Any minute he plays is great as he was out of action since March. He played really well last time out against Krasnodar. He hadn't played for a long time and we need to play him so he can get that explosiveness back. Let's hope he does as that will give the squad something different.'