Yehvann Diouf has voiced his profound dismay following Stade de Reims’ relegation to Ligue 2, marking a sobering return to the second tier of French football after a seven-year stint in Ligue 1.
In a candid interview with L’Équipe, the Senegal international goalkeeper described his feelings in a single, powerful word: “disgusted.”
Reims’ 3-1 defeat to Metz after extra time sealed their fate, and for Diouf, the loss epitomised the flaws that plagued the team throughout the season.
“It was the story of our year,” he admitted, drawing a direct connection between the final match and the overall campaign. Despite the vocal backing of the home crowd, Diouf lamented the team’s inability to respond effectively when under pressure — a recurring theme during a frustrating season.
“Even with Metz not being especially threatening offensively, we couldn’t hold our ground. We couldn’t take the lead, and once we were behind, we never recovered,” he reflected.
Diouf was particularly critical of Reims’ shortcomings in both ends of the pitch. He cited a chronic lack of efficiency in front of goal and a failure to stay organised defensively as the key contributors to their downfall.
The winter departures of two key players to Wolverhampton Wanderers, he noted, had further destabilised the squad, stripping the team of valuable experience and depth.
Nevertheless, Diouf maintained that belief within the squad never wavered — even as the situation worsened.
“We still had confidence in ourselves,” he said, acknowledging the challenges but expressing disappointment that their efforts ultimately fell short.
On a personal note, the 24-year-old goalkeeper acknowledged that he had enjoyed arguably his strongest season since arriving at Reims in 2019. Yet any sense of individual accomplishment was quickly overshadowed by the team’s collective failure.
“It’s not something I take pride in,” he explained. “When a goalkeeper has to work that much, it usually means the team is struggling. My performances are more of a mirror of what went wrong this year.”
Looking ahead, Diouf painted a grim picture of the consequences awaiting the club in the wake of relegation. With the drop to Ligue 2 expected to bring significant financial strain, he fears for the jobs of staff members across all levels of the organisation.
“I’m disgusted for the entire club, not just for the players. There are people who’ve given so much to Reims, and now they’re facing an uncertain future because of this result.”
Despite the turmoil, Diouf has not closed the door on remaining with Reims. He is under contract until 2027 and maintains strong personal ties to the club and the city.
While his future remains undecided, his immediate focus is on recovery and reflection. “There’s a lot to think about,” he said.
“We need to take a hard look at what went wrong and figure out how to rebuild — quickly and effectively.”
The defeat and subsequent relegation bring to an end a difficult season that Diouf believes must serve as a wake-up call. Whether or not he remains in Ligue 2, the goalkeeper insists that lessons must be learned if Reims are to find their way back to France’s top flight.
