With a fantastic season with Stade Brestois on the books, having secured the team's first European finish in their history, we spoke with veteran right back Kenny Lala.
Having become one of the leaders of the locker room, Stade Brestois 29 defender Kenny Lala has enjoyed great success this season, the team already rewarded with a European qualification. Here's our interview with the full-back in which he talks about the craziness of the team's recent matches, his role in the derby in Rennes and the objectives for the end of the season.
Kenny, last weekend was historic for Stade Brestois 29, since you ensured the club's qualification for the European Cup for next season. How do you feel?
There is a lot of joy within the squad! And also pride in having managed to confirm European qualification. Personally, it’s exciting to be back in Europe! (Kenny played in Europe with RC Strasbourg and Olympiacos). This qualification is a good thing for us. It rewards our work, but we are well aware that the season is not yet over and that we can still allow ourselves to dream.
Would the dream be to finish in second place which is only two points away with three days remaining?
Not necessarily, it’s above all not having regrets and giving 100% until the end. We don't want to end the season saying to ourselves that we could have done better in this or that match. We want to get to the end of this beautiful story. We know all the issues according to our final ranking...Third is the Champions League, fourth is the Champions League qualifiers and fifth is the Europa League. Above all, we know that you have to win to stay at the top. I can tell you that we don’t need any extra motivation to reach these goals.
Brest are guaranteed European football for the first time ever.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 10, 2024
Their club-record signing is Steve Mounié, and he cost them just $5.4M.
He says they started the season joking about Europe and now they’ve made history ππ«π· pic.twitter.com/g04Q0gsYDj
Exactly, what objective did you set for yourself among the players?
From the moment we have surpassed the goal we set for ourselves at the start of the season, the objective is now to finish as high as possible. As we have done throughout the season, we are only planning on a few matches with a goal of points to be taken. The last one was set before facing Stade Rennais, so it's gone quite well…
Whatever happens between now and the last matchday this team will have left its mark on the club's history...
It’s very special! Especially since it was obvious when we remember the situation when I arrived (January 2023). At that time, the club was not in a favorable position (17th and potentiallly relegated). And besides, I wasn’t in the best situation either. So the fact that we were able to get back together and for me to take part in this great adventure is a source of pride. And this shows that coming here to relaunch myself was an excellent choice. Because now I feel fulfilled.
This development is also revealed in your leadership, like your role on Lilian Brassier's 5th goal in Rennes, Sunday (4-5). Can you tell us about it?
Between my career and my age (32), my status makes me one of the leaders in the locker room. My experience sometimes allows me to provide advice to my teammates. On this set piece, I don't really know why, but I felt that we could go for victory. I simply said to Lilian: “Go ahead and get in, don’t worry. And you will score! ". Lilian is not a player who doubts himself, but let's say that I managed to make him believe that he was going to do it. I try to bring that little extra. It’s a small role, because it’s not me who scores the goal. And it's easier to talk than do it, but it worked well this time.
LE MATCH DE LA SAISON ?? πΏπΏ#SRFCSB29 pic.twitter.com/tw2Gyvqnng
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) April 29, 2024
“Eric Roy told us it couldn’t be worse”
Against Stade Rennais, the team showed character after quickly going 2-0 down. What were Eric Roy's words at halftime?
He told us to return to our principles. That it couldn't be worse and keep a cool head. He also insisted on the fact that we had done good things and that we had to become solid again. And what Rennes managed to do in eight minutes, we were also capable of. After that, we returned to the pitch with the energy to give our best.
What do you think of his coaching?
Eric Roy always gives positive speeches, highlighting the qualities of the team. Since he has been at the club, he has managed to bring positivity to the squad. I admire his character: never giving up, never admitting defeat... Compared to last season, I haven't noticed any big differences in his coaching. Everyone listens to what he has to say. Eric Roy always tells us when things are not going well, while giving us confidence.
Une saison historique !β€οΈ pic.twitter.com/YARfkyTUZI
— Stade Brestois 29 (@SB29) May 10, 2024
How do you explain this very spectacular month of April of SB29 in Ligue 1 Uber Eats with a total of 25 goals over the 4 matches? Have there been any new playing instructions?
No, on the contrary, Eric Roy keeps telling us to stick to our playing principles. And these have never been about conceding so many goals! Even if we concede one more. I would say that is part of the learning. I wouldn't speak on behalf of the squad, but we undoubtedly need to gain experience to know how to maintain a result, to learn to control our emotions. Even if in the end things came out well, like in Rennes. As a defender, I'm not very proud of having conceded so many goals (13 in 4 games), but if there is victory at the end, that remains the main thing. Even if it's more complicated at the moment, we have already shown good things defensively this season, and lately we have been doing it more offensively.
This victory in the derby and more generally this great season have been great surprises for your supporters. How is it going with them?
Football is made to experience emotions with the supporters. And we players feel their fervor. We want to share with them and surpass ourselves. This created a positive situation. Everything is going very well, you have to take advantage of it! There were many of them to welcome us on our return from Rennes. These are good times to share. But for several weeks and months there has been a real enthusiasm around us, everyone has allowed themselves to dream. Today, this is happening. Above all, I see the outcome of our work. Because it was not easy to manage to maintain this level throughout the season.
At the end of the day, you have experienced all the emotions since you have been here...
For me, there was first the pleasure of returning to the pitch. Since I have been at Stade Brestois, I have indeed experienced very different situations, but I had as many thrills last season in relegation matches as I do now to stay at the top of the table.
