Stade de Reims' post-game huddle and debrief is becoming a regular feature in their Ligue 1 Uber Eats outings. Symbolic of the solidity, the unity that the Champagne club has found under Will Still, we are now ten huddles deep - one for each game of their current unbeaten run!

That run - the club's best in four years - has coincided with Still's appointment as Oscar Garcia's replacement.

"I don't really like the spotlight being on me," Still told the Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "I don't feel much merit coming back to me, it's the players who have understood what they are capable of producing. And once everyone is pulling in the same direction, we can do very promising things."

'Make them realise they can do big things'

While he may not boast the glittering playing career of predecessor Garcia, Still has proven an excellent man-manager and motivator.

"When I took over I wanted to make the lads understand just how good they are - how much quality is in this team and just how capable we are of standing up to any team in the league!" he explained. "I wanted to give them confidence, to make them realise they can do big things."

Holding Paris Saint-Germain to a goalless draw in their first game under Still doubtless helped Reims' players believe in their new coach's ideas! They've conceded just four goals since, and only once have they fallen behind… in Lille. However, Jens Cajuste's late equaliser earned his side a point on January 2nd - for the fifth game of their current six-game unbeaten away run!

"Never underestimate a point taken in Lille!" beamed Still. "All the credit goes to the players - the satisfaction we felt is thanks to them because the effort they have put in is enormous. We saw tired legs and we saw fatigue, but even when it's tough we can put together a performance, we can get a result, and that is the most important thing!"

No team has seen less of the ball than Reims this term: they average just 42% possession per game. Yet the Champagne side's setup, always ready to strike on the counter, has been working wonders of late!

"I want us to play on the front foot and to press high," he detailed. "I want us to cause the opposition problems, to win the ball back high up the field to make their lives difficult. It requires a near super-human effort and I'm aware of that, but it's a risk we are willing to take because we want to play positive football and stay as far from our goal as possible."

Going with the Flo

The youngest coach in France is implementing his tactics thanks to his linguistic talents - having mastered French, Dutch and English. Some may feel, however, that Reims are too heavily reliant on Still’s fellow native Anglophone and top-scorer Folarin Balogun, who has bagged more than half the club's goals this term.

"We're not going to try to change anything now, things are working pretty well!" smiled the if-it-ain’t-broke boss. "Let's stay positive and let's focus on working all together to reach our goals!"

Still's next comes in Round 19's home clash against a resurgent OGC Nice on Sunday 15 January.