Stade de Reims are currently experiencing their best start to a Ligue 1 season since 1974. The club from France’s champagne region were one of the success stories of last season - thanks to manager Will Still’s incredible 19 match unbeaten run - and are impressing once again this time around. Interview.
At 30, Still is the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues. Now joined by assistant - and brother - 26-year-old Nicolas, the Englishman is continuing to make his mark in the French top flight. His most recent success – a 2-0 victory over Lyon that sent Reims into third.
Will Still: 'In the right direction'
"I'm very happy and proud of everyone because I think this is the Stade de Reims that everybody wants to see," Still told the Ligue 1 Show. "We showed great maturity, it's proof that the club is making tracks in the right direction."
There were question marks over what this season would bring for Reims, after winning just two of their final ten outings last term - as well as seeing top scorer Folarin Balogun move on in the summer.
Munetsi: 'Everybody works for each other'
Their recruitment has been impressive though – Teddy Teuma, Keito Nakamura and Mohamed Daramy are all helping silence the doubters.
"It's a nice team, young people, and they took very good care of me from the day I came, and yeah – I like it over here," said forward Mohamed Daramy.
But it’s not just the new faces who’ve been impressing; the old guard have continued to shine. Marshall Munetsi, for example, who landed the winner against Lyon.
"These are things we work on in training with coach Will," explained Munetsi. "Everybody works for each other. It’s not just about the 11 that start, but the substitutes too. They are capable of changing games for us."
Prolific
Now with 13 points from their opening seven matches, the Champagne outfit already boast as many points as they had at Round 13 last season. Reims are also the division’s third-top scorers, and one of just two sides to have scored in every match!
On fire in attack, but solid at the back too. Still’s side’s pressing and work rate key to their superb start. This season, Reims sit second in the league in terms of interceptions, ball recoveries, and clearances, with the third-most tackles, and blocks.
Still: 'No big deal'
The six-time French champions face league leaders Monaco this Saturday, and victory will send them to the summit of Ligue 1 Uber Eats. However, Will Still remains, as ever, level-headed.
"It doesn't change anything, honestly it's no big deal," he tempered when asked how it feels to be playing for the top spots. "We're keeping our heads, staying calm and preparing to have a good game against Monaco. For now, [top spot] doesn't mean much to me."
