Habib Beye insists he remains determined to lead Stade Rennais through a deepening crisis after another damaging defeat, despite growing uncertainty over his future at the club.
Rennes’ loss to Lens on Saturday prolonged a difficult run of results and intensified scrutiny on the head coach, whose side has struggled to find momentum.
Yet, speaking after the match, Beye struck a defiant tone, underlining his resolve to continue in charge even as pressure mounts.
“Today, I have the passion to continue and to believe that in these moments, you have to hang in there. And that’s precisely when you have to show character,” Beye said at his post-match press conference.
“When the club’s situation is difficult in terms of results, you have to be strong. We tried to demonstrate that tonight. We’ll have to hang in there and not give up.”
The defeat has fuelled questions about whether Beye will remain on the bench for Rennes’ next fixture, a daunting home meeting with Paris St-Germain.
While he did not directly address speculation over his position, the coach emphasised his awareness of the work required to reverse the club’s fortunes.
“I’m very aware of what we need to do in terms of work and investment to get the club out of this difficult situation,” he added, responding to a question about unity within the squad.
“We have a negative dynamic in 2026. It’s up to the captain to show that energy and passion. I will always be there, standing tall, looking everyone in the eye, and showing that this desire remains intact.”
Beye also chose not to dwell on whether he still has the full backing of the dressing room, instead taking responsibility for his selection decisions.
He addressed his choice to leave goalkeeper Brice Samba out of the squad, making clear that accountability ultimately rests with him.
“The coach is responsible for the team’s performance, based on the necessary choices and respect for the institution. When these two things aren’t present, you can’t be in the team. I don’t have to tell you what he did,” Beye explained.
The atmosphere around the club remains tense, with supporters showing increasing frustration after a run of disappointing performances.
Rennes are expected to regroup later in the evening, but uncertainty continues to surround the short-term future of their head coach.
With PSG visiting next Friday, the stakes are high both on and off the pitch. As results continue to falter, the coming days are likely to prove decisive for Beye and a Rennes side searching for stability and direction.
