Ligue 1: Aïssa Mandi Determined to Help Reims Avoid Drop Before Considering His Future
With just a few games remaining in the Ligue 1 season, Stade de Reims finds itself perilously close to relegation. Following their defeat to Guingamp on Matchday 35, Reims now sit 17th in the table—only one point above the drop zone, with Evian TG breathing down their necks.
For Aïssa Mandi, one of the club’s standout players and an established Algerian international with 17 caps, the stakes couldn’t be higher. While speculation continues to mount over his potential departure this summer, Mandi has made it clear that his immediate focus is on keeping Reims in France’s top flight.
“My future? I have no idea. I haven’t spoken to the president about it. My priority is to keep the club in Ligue 1. Above all, not to relegate it—that would be a huge black mark in my career,” said the 23-year-old defender.
Mandi’s comments reflect both personal and professional stakes. A key figure in Reims’ back line, he has been one of the club’s most consistent performers this season. Yet with the club teetering on the edge, even his performances might not be enough unless Reims can rally in the final matches.
The club’s latest result—a lackluster loss to a mid-table Guingamp side—has only heightened concerns. Reims have managed just one win in their last five games, and with three fixtures remaining, they face a tense finish to the campaign. The challenge now is not only tactical but psychological: the squad must rediscover form quickly or risk sliding into Ligue 2.
While Mandi has remained loyal to Reims since making his professional debut in 2010, few expect the talented defender to stay if the club is relegated. A move abroad or to a higher-placed French club seems inevitable in that scenario. Several teams in Ligue 1 and beyond have already shown interest in the Algerian, who was part of the national team at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
For now, though, Mandi isn’t entertaining those possibilities. His mission is simple: help Reims survive. Anything else—transfers, negotiations, future plans—can wait.
Reims’ final fixtures will determine not only the club’s future but also the trajectory of one of Algeria’s most promising defenders.
