Reims Captain Aïssa Mandi Urges Unity Amid Troubled Start to Season
2 October 2014
Stade de Reims captain Aïssa Mandi has called for calm and unity within the squad after a dismal start to their Ligue 1 campaign left the club languishing near the foot of the table.
With just seven points from eight games and back-to-back defeats that have seen them concede eight goals without reply, pressure is mounting on head coach Jean-Luc Vasseur, who took charge over the summer.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday’s clash with high-flying Bordeaux, Mandi acknowledged the club’s poor run but urged his teammates not to lose hope.
“We mustn’t give up,” said the Algerian international. “Yes, we took a heavy beating against Marseille. Then in Metz, we ended the match with nine men. It’s not easy to accept conceding eight goals and not scoring any, but we have to stay focused.”
Reims, who began last season strongly before faltering in the latter stages, have struggled to find consistency this term. Much of the frustration appears to stem from tactical adjustments made by Vasseur, whose change in formation has come under scrutiny from both fans and pundits.
But Mandi defended the coach’s right to make strategic decisions, saying the players must remain adaptable.
“It’s the coach’s choice,” he said. “If he wants to change the system, then he changes it. I’m here to apply it on the pitch. Whether it’s 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, we’re professionals. At our level, we should be able to adapt to any formation.”
Reims’ most recent performance—a 3-0 defeat to Metz—was compounded by two red cards, further highlighting the team’s growing discipline issues and frustration.
Looking ahead to their next fixture, Mandi remains optimistic. Friday’s opponents, Bordeaux, sit near the top of the Ligue 1 table and have been one of the standout teams so far this season.
“The stadium will be behind us against a big team like Bordeaux,” Mandi added. “They’re in form, it won’t be easy, but we need to concentrate on ourselves and bring the same mindset we had in the games we won.”
As pressure builds on Vasseur and his struggling squad, the match against Bordeaux could prove a crucial turning point in Reims’ season. With the team desperate to turn things around, Mandi’s rallying cry may serve as a key moment in restoring unity and belief in the dressing room.
